D.C. United acquires Yamil Asad in cash trade with Atlanta

D.C. United announced Tuesday the team has acquired Argentine attacking midfielder Yamil Asad from Atlanta United in exchange for up to $600,000 in allocation money, plucking the 23-year-old from the Five Stripes ahead of his second season in Major League Soccer.

The deal is structured with an initial payment of $200,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) for 2018, and an additional $100,000 in GAM and $100,000 in TAM for 2019. Atlanta could then receive another $100,000 in GAM if Asad plays at least one match in the 2020 MLS season.

Since Atlanta initially signed Asad on loan from Argentine outfit Velez Sarsfield in a deal that included a purchase option for Feb. 13, 2018, that option will instead need to be triggered by D.C. United. Paul Tenorio of ESPN FC previously reported that D.C. United would indeed pay a $300,000 loan fee to Velez, as well as the $700,000 purchase option.

Those figures weren't confirmed by either club.

Asad joined Gerardo Martino's Atlanta United in its inaugural 2017 campaign and immediately figured into the starting lineup as a wide attacker on the left. From that position, he notched seven goals and recorded 13 assists, making a total of 33 regular and post-season appearances for the Five Stripes.

D.C. United hopes for similar levels of contribution in his sophomore season.

"Yamil is a bright talent in MLS, who was a major contributor to Atlanta’s successful inaugural campaign," D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said in a statement.

"His pace, skill, and creativity in wide areas will provide us with an additional attacking dimension. He's a young player who plays with a big personality and a high work rate, and he will continue to develop and improve with more experience in this league. We're thrilled to add him."