The start of the 2023 regular season is just a few days away, and FC Dallas has added one more piece to their roster.
FC Dallas has signed defender Sam Junqua following a trade with Houston Dynamo FC for Junqua’s “Right of First Refusal,” both clubs announced today.
FC Dallas sent $75,000 of 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Dynamo. Junqua joins FC Dallas through the end of the 2023 season with club options for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The 26-year old joins FC Dallas after spending four seasons with Houston. Following the 2022 season, Junqua was out of contract with the Dynamo, but the Orange extended a bona fide offer1, which allowed them to retain his player rights.
He was selected eighth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and signed with the Dynamo on Jan. 22, 2019. He appeared in 51 matches across all competitions for the club, including MLS regular season, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup, and the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament. Junqua also spent the 2019 season with USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC, where he appeared in 17 matches.
Our Take
For starters, this seems like a nice depth piece. Junqua made $89,5132 a season ago, so he isn’t an expensive option. Being a domestic player also helps his case, as he won’t require an international roster slot.
He has a versatile player, giving head coach Nico Estevez an option at either left back, center back or left wing. He will likely be a good bench piece to help give Marco Farfan or Alan Velasco some rest when they need it.
The downside right now of this move is that Junqua hasn’t been in preseason camp, so he will need to catch up quickly once he arrives in Dallas.
Update with a quote from Nico Estevez:
“Well, I think we learned about how not having a backup for Marco [Farfan] wasn't very good because he had to play a lot of meetings,” explained Estevez. “We couldn't manage him a lot, and then, when when we had to be in the playoffs, you know, here he came like kind of not in 100%. He has some soreness and some issues. Physically, it didn't help him to risk his top level, and you know this is lucky that he had.
“This happened, we learn, and we knew that having the League’s Cup and with a new MLS playoff format if we're gonna play more games than ever. And I think when the season finished last year, we were thinking on how we can improve this roster, and then, when we have to make rotations, in the level of the team stays high. Sam had an experience playing in MLS. He has qualities and a profile that fits our style of play.”
What do you all make of this ‘trade’? Happy to see more depth added with a player with some decent MLS experience.
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