St. Louis CITY SC made the first big move of what should be a busy offseason on Tuesday, officially acquiring midfielder Chris Durkin from D.C. United in exchange for Jared Stroud, Lucas Bartlett, and $300,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money.
Durkin, a Virginia native who will turn 24 in February, brings a controlled salary hit, while occupying a U-22 initiative slot. He’ll also allow CITY head coach Bradley Carnell some added flexibility through the middle of the field, giving the club another skilled contributor as it aims to sustain the success of the 2023 season.
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“Chris is a young, talented defensive midfielder, who has gained a ton of great experience here in the U.S., over in Europe, and with the youth national team,” CITY sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a statement. “He has a hard-working, ambitious, and fighter mentality that makes him a good fit for this club.”
While that workmanlike approach will be important to matching CITY’s principles on the field, Durkin is more than his workrate. He has talent on the ball, an ability to receive a pass in transition, and the skill required to represent the United States Youth national Team at every level. That skill has been on display from his rise through the D.C. United Academy all the way up to the MLS. After signing a Homegrown deal with D.C. United at 16 years old, Durkin made his MLS debut in March 2018. He played a season and a half with the club before moving to Europe to play with Belgian First Division Sint-Truidense V.V.
After returning to D.C. in 2022, Durkin appeared in 66 matches—mainly as a starter—and tallied four goals and six assists across all competitions. He led the club with 463 duels and 42 interceptions across the past two seasons.
“We want to thank Chris for his incredible contributions to the club since he was initially signed as a 16-year-old,” Ally Mackay, D.C. United’s general manager and chief soccer officer, said in a statement. “Speaking with others at the club, I know how big of a role Chris played at D.C. United and that he was beloved by our fans and the community. We wish him all the best in his next chapter in St. Louis and he will always be a part of the Black-and-Red family.”
So, what role will Chris Durkin play for CITY during the 2024 MLS season?
For starters, CITY needs midfield depth—especially if Njabulo Blom’s international duties with South Africa keep him out of the lineup. In Carnell’s 3-5-2, Durkin can seamlessly fit into either side of the double pivot, or float further into the midfield, especially in transition moments. In Carnell’s 4-4-3 diamond, he can slot into any of the four midfield positions, allowing for a mix of midfielders that can play positionless soccer, especially in the transitional moments that require such flexibility. Durkin has also played on the right side of DC United’s midfield, occupying roles similar to those of Indiana Vassilev’s in St. Louis.
Pfannenstiel had to pay to acquire Durkin, which is noteworthy given the initial low cost to acquire Stroud, and the impact that he and Bartlett—a former trialist with CITY—left on the inaugural roster. While the loss of Stroud, in particular, will have an impact on CITY’s roster, his departure opens room for Célio Pompeu and Nökkvi Thórisson out wide.
Goodbyes can be difficult, but sporting directors have to take chances in a league like this. On the surface, Durkin looks like a good addition that improves the quality of the roster. Although there’s still work to be done, it’s clear that Pfannenstiel isn’t shying away from the task in front of him.
