D.C. United sign Martín Rodríguez from Turkish Super Lig side Altay SK | OneFootball

D.C. United have signed Chilean winger Martín Rodríguez on a permanent transfer from Turkish Super Lig side Altay SK through the 2024 Major League Soccer season with an option for 2025, using Targeted Allocation Money.

He is set to join the roster once the MLS Secondary Transfer Window begins on July 7, making him eligible to debut during the Black-and-Red's Week 19 match at the Philadelphia Union on July 8.

“Martín is a dynamic attacking player in the prime of his career who we are excited to add to our roster to bolster our offense,” Dave Kasper, D.C. United president of soccer operations, said in a club release.

“We’ve been monitoring Martín for some time, and he has performed at the highest level for both club and country. We are getting a proven attacker who has earned multiple caps with the Chilean National Team, and experience at top Liga MX clubs. We’re excited to add someone with his level of experience and ability, and we believe he will be an impact player for us from the start.”

Rodríguez arrives with extensive experience, featuring in the Turkish league, Chilean first division and Liga MX. He initially kicked off his career with Huachipato FC in Chile, spending five years with the club before then transferring to Colo Colo.

In 2016, he made his move to Liga MX, where he spent two years with Cruz Azul, two with Pumas and one season with Club Morelia. The winger returned briefly to Chile prior to taking off in Turkey with Altay SK.

He comes as a much-needed signing for D.C. United, after the Eastern Conference side offloaded Designated Player Edison Flores to Liga MX’s Atlas FC. The team has also seen a turbulent start to their 2022 MLS campaign, sitting in 13th place on the Eastern Conference table and undergoing a managerial change just weeks into the season.