The 2022 season was D.C. United's 27th in existence and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of American soccer, Major League Soccer. In addition to MLS, D.C. United participated in this season's editions of the U.S. Open Cup. United also participated in the Coachella Valley Invitational and the Capital Cup friendly tournaments. The season covered the period from 1 December 2021 to 30 November 2022.
During this season, United had a poor run of form, finishing in last place for the fourth time in franchise history, the third time with Dave Kasper as General Manager or President, and the second time with Jason Levien as owner. During the season, United broke their club record for the most goals conceded during a season (75), largest home loss (6 goals), and largest away loss (7 goals).
During the season, there were several notable departures from United including Paul Arriola, Julian Gressel, Kevin Paredes, and Frédéric Brillant. The club brought in David Ochoa, Christian Benteke, Taxiarchis Fountas, and Martín Rodríguez.
Club
Team management Position Name Chairman Jason Levien Co-Chairman Stephen Kaplan President of Soccer Operations Dave Kasper General Manager Lucy Rushton Technical Director Stewart Mairs Head coach Wayne Rooney Assistant coach Chad Ashton Assistant coach Nicolás Frutos Assistant coach Frédéric Brillant Assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth Goalkeeping coach Diego Restrepo
Roster
Squad No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Apps Goals Assists Signed from Goalkeepers 1 Rafael Romo GK 15 0 0 OH Leuven 21 Jon Kempin GK 1300 Columbus Crew 24 Bill Hamid GK 297 0 0 Midtjylland 32 David Ochoa GK 900 Real Salt Lake Defenders 2Gaoussou SamakéLB400 ASEC Mimosas 3Chris Odoi-Atsem RB 5910 Maryland Terrapins 4Brendan Hines-Ike CB 3310 Kortrijk5Brad SmithLB1601 Seattle Sounders FC 14 Andy Najar RB 136 11 15 Los Angeles FC 15Steve Birnbaum CB 247136 California Golden Bears 23Donovan Pines CB 6731 Maryland Terrapins 33Jacob Greene LB / RB 100 D.C. United Academy 45Matai Akinmboni CB 200 D.C. United Academy 93Tony Alfaro CB 4512 Reno 1868 97Sami Guediri LB 1400 Loudoun United Midfielders 6Russell Canouse DM 11355 Hoffenheim 8Chris DurkinDM7124 Sint-Truiden 12Drew SkundrichCM 41 0 2 Loudoun United 13Sofiane DjeffalMF2801 Oregon State Beavers 18Jeremy Garay MF 1 0 0 D.C. United Academy 25Jackson Hopkins AM / SS2201 D.C. United Academy 35Ted Ku-DiPietroMF1200 Loudoun United 44Victor PálssonDM1000 Schalke 0449 Ravel MorrisonMF1420 Derby County77 Martín RodríguezMF / LW1401 Altay SK Forwards 9Ola Kamara ST 87376 Shenzhen 11Taxiarchis Fountas SS21121 Rapid Wien 16Adrien PerezFW1902 Los Angeles FC17 Kimarni Smith LW2211 Clemson Tigers 19 Nigel Robertha FW3664 Levski Sofia 20 Christian Benteke ST 7 1 0 Crystal Palace 22 Miguel Berry ST 14 0 0 Columbus Crew
Non-competitive
Preseason exhibitions
Coachella Valley Invitational
Midseason exhibitions
Competitive
Major League Soccer
Standings
Results summary
Results by matchday
Results
U.S. Open Cup
Transfers
Transfers in
Date Position No. Name From Fee/notes Ref. November 22, 2021 DF 2 Gaoussou Samaké ASEC Mimosas Signed through 2023, team options for 2024-25 January 4, 2022 MF 4 Brendan Hines-Ike Kortrijk Loan option exercised January 13, 2022 MF 35 Ted Ku-DiPietro Loudoun United Homegrown contract through 2023, team options for 2024-2025 January 24, 2022DF 20 Hayden Sargis Sacramento RepublicSigned through 2024, team options for 2025-26 $25,000 to Sacramento, plus bonuses at certain benchmarks.January 27, 2022DF 5 Brad Smith Seattle Sounders FC$750,000 GAM, with 10% sell-on feeFW11 Taxiarchis Fountas Rapid WienDesignated Player through 2024 with club option for 2025.February 25, 2022MF 13 Sofiane Djeffal Oregon State BeaversMLS SuperDraft PickMarch 24, 2022MF 8 Chris Durkin Sint-Truiden$600,000 fee to Sint-Truiden, $200,000 GAM to Houston Dynamo for MLS rightsApril 13, 2022MF 25 Jackson Hopkins D.C. United AcademyHomegrown PlayerApril 27, 2022GK 1 Rafael Romo OH LeuvenJune 23, 2022MF77 Martín Rodríguez Altay SKSigned through 2024, team option for 2025July 13, 2022DF97 Sami Guediri Loudoun UnitedJuly 20, 2022FW22 Miguel Berry Columbus CrewJuly 21, 2022MF49 Ravel Morrison Derby County Signed through 2023, with 2024 team optionJuly 21, 2022MF44 Victor Pálsson Schalke 04Designated Player, signed through 2024, club option for 2025July 29, 2022GK32 David Ochoa Real Salt Lake$75,000 GAM, plus up to $300,000 GAM in 2023 25% sell-on fee for transfer outside MLS Homegrown PlayerAugust 5, 2022FW20 Christian Benteke Crystal PalaceDesignated Player, signed through 2024, club option for 2025August 30, 2022FW26 Kristian Fletcher Loudoun UnitedPrecontract (effective January 1, 2023) through 2025, club option for 2026 Homegrown PlayerAugust 31, 2022DF45 Matai Akinmboni D.C. United AcademyHomegrown Player, signed through 2025, club options for 2026-27
Transfers out Date Position No. Name To Fee/notes Ref. November 29, 2021 FW 32 Ramón Ábila Boca Juniors End of loan FW 20 Jovanny Bolívar Deportivo La Guaira End of loan MF 11 Yamil Asad Universidad Católica Option declined FW 29 Yordy Reyna Charlotte FC Option declined DF 28 Joseph Mora Charlotte FC Option declined, selected in 2021 MLS Expansion Draft DF 35 Michael DeShields New England Revolution II Option declined GK 1 Chris Seitz N/A Option declined, retired MF 18 Felipe Austin FC End of contract DF 13 Frédéric Brillant N/A End of contract, retired January 8, 2022 FW 50 Erik Sorga IFK Göteborg €450,000 January 26, 2022 MF 7 Paul Arriola FC Dallas $2,000,000 GAM January 28, 2022 DF 30 Kevin Paredes Wolfsburg $7,350,000 February 22, 2022 MF 5 Júnior Moreno FC Cincinnati $250,000 GAM, plus up to $175,000 GAM if benchmarks are hit June 23, 2022 FW 10 Edison Flores Atlas Undisclosed July 4, 2022 FW 22 Griffin Yow Westerlo $100,000, 35% sell-on fee and additional cash July 15, 2022 MF 31 Julian Gressel Vancouver Whitecaps FC $400,000 GAM (up to $900,000 through 2024) August 29, 2022 MF 27 Moses Nyeman Beveren $350,000, 25% sell-on fee
Loan in No. Pos. Player Loaned from Start End Source 7FW Michael Estrada Deportivo Toluca 24 MF Azaad Liadi Loudoun United
Loan out No. Pos. Player Loaned to Start End Source 21 GK Jon Kempin San Diego Loyal June 10, 2022 June 17, 2022 30 DF Hayden Sargis Phoenix Rising FC September 8, 2022 December 31, 2022
MLS SuperDraft picks
Round Selection Player Position College Status236 Sofiane Djeffal MF Oregon State Signed to First Team roster241 Alex Nagy FW Vermont Returned to school369 Skage Simonsen MF SMU Signed with Loudoun United FC
Statistics
Appearances and goals Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.
!colspan="12"|Players who left during the season
!colspan="4"|Total !36!!39!!34!!36!!2!!3!!0!!0
Top scorers {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Rank ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|No. ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:140px;" scope="col"|Name ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Total |- | 1 || MF || 11 ||align="left"| || 12 || 0 || 0 || 12 |- | 2 || FW || 9 ||align="left"| Ola Kamara || 9 || 2 || 0 || 11 |- | 3 || FW || 7 ||align="left"| Michael Estrada || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 |- |rowspan="3"| 4 || DF || 15 || align="left"| Steve Birnbaum || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- | MF || 49 ||align="left"| Ravel Morrison || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- | FW || 19 ||align="left"| Nigel Robertha || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2 |- |rowspan="6"| 7 || FW || 20 ||align="left"| Christian Benteke || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 6 ||align="left"| Russell Canouse || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | FW || 26 ||align="left"| Kristian Fletcher || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 10 ||align="left"| Edison Flores || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | FW || 17 ||align="left"| Kimarni Smith || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- !colspan="4"|Total !35!!3!!0!!38
Top assists {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Rank ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|No. ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:140px;" scope="col"|Name ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"| ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Total |- | 1 || MF || 31 ||align="left"| Julian Gressel || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7 |- | 2 || MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 6 || 0 || 0 || 6 |- | 3 || FW || 7 ||align="left"| Michael Estrada || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 |- |rowspan="4"| 4 || MF || 11 ||align="left"| || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 |- | FW || 19 ||align="left"| Nigel Robertha || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 |- | FW || 77 ||align="left"| Martín Rodríguez || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 |- | FW || 17 ||align="left"| Kimarni Smith || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 |- |rowspan="3"| 8 || DF || 14 ||align="left"| Andy Najar || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- | MF || 12 ||align="left"| Drew Skundrich || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- | FW || 9 ||align="left"| Ola Kamara || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2 |- |rowspan="7"| 11 || DF || 93 ||align="left"| Tony Alfaro || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 6 ||align="left"| Russell Canouse || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 13 ||align="left"| Sofiane Djeffal|| 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 4 ||align="left"| Brendan Hines-Ike || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- || MF || 25 ||align="left"| Jackson Hopkins || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 23 ||align="left"| Donovan Pines || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 5 ||align="left"| Brad Smith || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- !colspan="4"|Total !40!!1!!0!!41
Disciplinary record {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align:center;" |- | rowspan="2" !width=15| | rowspan="2" !width=15| | rowspan="2" !width=120|Player | colspan="3"|MLS | colspan="3"|U.S. Open Cup | colspan="3"|MLS Cup | colspan="3"|Total |- !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| |- | 4 || DF ||align="left"| Brendan Hines-Ike || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 5 || DF ||align="left"| Brad Smith || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 11 || FW ||align="left"| Michael Estrada || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 14 || DF ||align="left"| Andy Najar || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 16 || FW ||align="left"| Adrien Perez || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 27 || MF ||align="left"| Moses Nyeman || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- !colspan=3|Total !!5!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!5!!0!!1
Clean sheets