D.C. United Players Whose Contracts Are Expiring Soon
Having missed the playoffs again and fired their manager, D.C. United need to work on rebuilding. Many of their younger players are under expiring contracts and some are weighing their options.
Donovan Pines
The 25-year-old center-back has played 87 games with D.C. United over the course of his five seasons with them. Despite being a defender, he’s also contributed 6 goals to the club. His age and his experience make him an enticing player for any teams looking to add some vitality to their organization.
With less than six months left on his contract, Pines is able to sign a pre-contract overseas if he wishes to before the transfer window opens in January. If he chooses to do so, D.C. United would not only lose a player but the transfer fee as well. His Maryland roots may make the decision to leave harder, as Pines was born in Maryland and even went through D.C. United’s academy. His position as a homegrown player might make United reluctant to lose him.
Gabriel Pirani
Like Pines, Pirani’s contract expires at the end of 2023. The 21-year-old midfielder is on loan to United from Santos FC, a club that plays in both the Brasileirão and the Paulistão. His loan is up on Dec. 31 although his future is uncertain. United has the option to buy him out, although Santos FC has taken him back after the end of each loan he’s been out on.
Despite the fact that Pirani only made 10 appearances for D.C. United, he might be a good addition to the club if they want to sign him to a further contract. He played full-time in United’s final game against the New York City FC and scored United’s only goal against Atlanta FC, ending the game in a draw. Like Pines, his age may factor into the decisions make by both United and Santos FC. A young player is always good to have so the next generation can carry on.
Theodore (Ted) Ku-DiPietro
Ku-DiPietro’s professional career began at D.C. United’s reserve team, Loudoun United. After four seasons and 11 goals there, he signed with D.C. United in 2022. Ku-DiPietro scored the game winning goal in D.C. United’s first game of the 2023 season against Toronto F.C. He went on to score four more goals over the 26 games he played in.
D.C. United has a two-year option on Ku-DiPietro’s contract. The 21-year-old midfielder could continue to be a player D.C. United can rely on if they choose to act on the option. Like Pines, Ku-DiPietro was signed as a homegrown player and may want to keep building his career in D.C.
Russell Canouse
The 28-year-old midfielder has been with D.C. United since he was signed from the Bundesliga in 2017. In 2020, he was signed to a three-year extension with United but that ends at the end of 2023. During the 2023 season, Canouse played 27 matches and acted as captain in seven of them.
Since he has already been given an extension, it is unclear if United will offer another. Longevity may not win out if the club thinks they would be better off transferring Canouse and signing someone new. Canouse’s skills cannot be discounted though, as he finished the 2023 season with a pass completion percentage of 85%. D.C. may want to keep solid players around them as they go into a rebuilding phase over the offseason.
Ruan
Signed from Orlando F.C. before the 2023 season, Ruan has appeared in 24 games for D.C. United and started 15 of them. He contributed five assists and had a pass completion percentage of 76%. With his contract ending in December, D.C. will need to decide if the 28-year-old right-back is a good fit for the club.
Similar to Canouse, if United is looking to rebuild their team with experienced players, Ruan would be a good signing. Over the course of his four seasons with Orlando F.C., Ruan put up four goals and completed over 3000 pass attempts. Having a steady player like Ruan in the back field could serve United well.
