D.C. United Acquires Defender Robbie Russell; Season Opens March 10

D.C. United announced this afternoon that it had acquired defender Robbie Russell from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

Russell, 32, previously spent four seasons at Real Salt Lake, where he made 78 appearances and 68 starts. Russell also scored the winning goal for RSL in their 2009 MLS Cup win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. His signing bolsters D.C. United's depth at right back. Perry Kitchen, the third overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, spent most of this past season at right back, but it is widely expected that the club will move Kitchen to a defensive midfield position.

Russell was born in Ghana, but moved to Amherst, Mass. as a teenager and played college soccer at Duke University. In 2000, Russell signed with Sogndal I.L. of the Norwegian First Division before moving to Rosenborg BK in 2004. At Rosenborg, Russell won a league title medal in 2004 and made four appearances in the club's UEFA Champions League campaign.

After falling out of favor with Rosenborg, Russell moved to Viborg FF of the Danish Superligaen, where he remained until 2008, when he was signed by RSL.

United also announced today that their season will open on March 10 with a home game against unknown opposition at an unknown time and (for the moment) at an unknown location.

D.C. United spokeman Doug Hicks told Steven Goff of The Washington Post that negotiations are underway for a new, short-term lease at RFK Memorial Stadium, which has been the club's home since its founding in 1996. "However," Hicks went on to tell Goff, "RFK is not a long-term solution."