FC DALLAS BRINGS PEARCE HOME Brent Latham - Friday, September 11, 2009
Matthias Kern/Bongarts
Pearce to MLS: not a surprise
Much traveled US defender Heath Pearce has finally found a temporary home, agreeing to terms with FC Dallas for what remains of the MLS season.
"It is confirmed that Heath Pearce has signed a contract with the club that is through the end of the season," an FC Dallas spokesperson confirmed to YA.
According to the team, Pearce, who moved straight to Europe after spending two years in college at Portland, has signed to finish the season with the MLS stragglers. Given that the team used an allocation to acquire Pearce, and the Hoops find themselves long shots to make the playoffs, the team will likely have an option in place to extend the contract after that.
Pearce has made 28 appearances for the national team, including a team high 11 starts in 2008. He last played for the national team over the summer in the Gold Cup, and was part of the back line that was thrashed by Mexico for five goals in the second half of the final.
The left back fell out of favor after a string of subpar performances for Bob Bradley, after having been demoted to the second team as his contract expired in the spring with German 2. Bundesliga team Hansa Rostock.
Pearce had apparently agreed to terms last week with Turkish side Bursapor, but the deal fell apart for undisclosed reasons.