ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The offseason is a barely over a month old for St. Louis City SC and they are already making moves.
According to The Athletic MLS insider Tom Bogert, City SC is acquiring midfielder Chris Durkin from D.C. United in a deal that will send winger Jared Stroud, center back Lucas Bartlett and $300,000 in General Allocation Money(GAM) to the Capitol.
City SC made the move official on Dec. 12.
Durkin, a DC United homegrown player, returned to the club and MLS in 2022 after a three-year stint in Europe with Sint-Truiden in the Belgian Pro League.
Although he's a holding midfielder, Durkin showed a little offensive skills the past two years, scoring four goals and racking up eight assists in his return to the states. Defensively, he completed 73.9 percent of his tackles and intercepted 21 passes, along with blocking seven shots last season.
Durkin being moved by D.C. United continue changes for what once was an MLS giant. After missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year and fifth in seven seasons, the team changed pace, hiring Ally Mackay as the club's new general manager. The club also parted way with manager and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney after the regular season ended.
Stroud will move on to his fourth club in five seasons. Stroud has juggled around the MLS since he joined the first team roster with the New York Red Bulls in 2020. He didn't stand out at all with the Red Bulls or Austin FC, but when the 27-year-old joined City SC to be coached by another Red Bull system alum in Bradley Carnell, things looked well for Stroud, scoring five goals and six assists across all competitions and appearing in a personal best 31 games.
Bartlett made 14 appearances for St. Louis last year, which were the first MLS appearances for the former FC Dallas alum.
