SAN JOSE — The Earthquakes have cleared the way for Swiss defender Francois Affolter to join the team after securing an international slot Tuesday in a trade with Atlanta United, the team announced.
San Jose sent the MLS expansion team $75,000 in targeted allocation money in order to open a spot for Affolter, 26, who signed a multiyear contract last month. The former FC Luzern defender wasn’t eligible last weekend while suspended from play in Europe, Quakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said.
Also, the Earthquakes already had filled its maximum eight international spots so it had to buy one to get the new center back on the field.