D.C. United near club-record deal for CFR Cluj forward Louis Munteanu
The 23-year-old has two goals and five assists in 14 league appearances for the Romanian side.
Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
D.C. United is nearing a club-record deal to acquire Romania international forward Louis Munteanu from CFR Cluj, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
D.C. would pay an initial fee around $7million plus add-ons which could take the total package to around $10m, sources add.
Munteanu, 23, has two goals and five assists in 14 league appearances for Cluj this year. He was acquired by Fiorentina when he was 18-years-old but never appeared for the club’s first team.
How D.C. could look next season
D.C. finished last in MLS last season with 26 points but is in the midst of an overhaul.
In addition to advancing on a deal to sign Munteanu, D.C. has signed Japanese defender Keisuke Kurokawa from Gamba Osaka, sources add. The left back is another new key addition.
The club have already signed forward Tai Baribo from the Philadelphia Union for $4m as well as signing MLS veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson. D.C. traded for center back Sean Nealis from the New York Red Bulls and used the No. 1 overall SuperDraft selection on center back Nikola Markovic.
Baribo will occupy one of the club’s Designated Player slots and Munteanu would occupy another. Teams in MLS can use up to three DP slots, the most high-leverage roster spots under the salary cap.
D.C. declined the contract option for Belgian forward Christian Benteke, who won the 2024 MLS Golden Boot. The 35-year-old is still a free agent.
The new-look attack will be built around Munteanu, Baribo and summer signing Caden Clark.
Tom Bogert is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, providing exclusive, original and unique insights on MLS and the U.S. national team. He has previously written for MLSsoccer.com, The Guardian, and more.