SPRINGFIELD, Va. — D.C. United have acquired Julian Gressel from Atlanta United for a $1 million transfer fee, signing the German-born midfielder to a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth year, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Reported first by Steven Goff of the Washington Post and Doug Roberson of the Atlantic Journal Constitution, the versatile midfielder joins United after stalled contract conversations with Atlanta.
A fan favorite in Atlanta, Gressel’s future with the club came in to question in the offseason. While club vice president Carlos Bocanegra told AJC that Atlanta would like to sign Gressel to a long-term contract the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations got in the way.