Chivas USA today announced the acquisition of defender Shavar Thomas in a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. In exchange, Chivas USA sent its natural second-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft to Los Angeles. Thomas, 26, a member of the Jamaican National Team, becomes Chivas USA′s third Senior International player, alongside Mexican players Claudio Suárez and Jorge Barrera.
"Shavar Thomas is an experienced central defender who has performed both in MLS and on the international level," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki. "We look forward to his contributions to Chivas USA as he competes for a spot on our back line."
In related news, Chivas USA also announced Friday that midfielder Amado Guevara has been removed from the club′s 18-man Senior Roster. However, Chivas USA continues to retain the player′s rights.
Born on January 29 in Hannah Town, Jamaica, Shavar Thomas is a veteran of four MLS seasons and a member of the Jamaican National Team. Since joining the Dallas Burn as a first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, the University of Connecticut product has played 91 MLS regular-season games (starting 84), logging 7,291 minutes and registering 3 goals and 1 assist.
During his four seasons in MLS, Thomas played for Dallas (2003) and Kansas City (2004-2006). He was acquired by Los Angeles on March 23, 2007 but did not play in an official regular-season match for the Galaxy.
Prior to joining MLS, Thomas played two years at the University of Connecticut, helping the Huskies compile a 32-11-2 record, while appearing in 36 games during his two years with the team. As a sophomore in 2002, Thomas was named to the All-Big East and NSCAA All-New England First Team and was a second team All-American.
On the international level, Thomas made his debut with the Jamaican National Team in 1999, and has since logged 12 international appearances, including in World Cup qualifying. He has also represented Jamaica at a number of youth levels, including with the Under-20′s at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina.
05 03 2007
Chivas USA today announced the signing of Mexican midfielder Jorge Barrera as a Senior International player. Barrera, 25, joins Chivas USA from sister club Chivas de Guadalajara, after spending late 2006 on loan with Mexican First Division side Querétaro. In addition, Chivas USA announced the signing of defenders Éder Robles and Cameron Dunn and midfielder Mohammed Sethi to Developmental Contracts. Per MLS policy, terms were not revealed.
Barrera, a right-sided midfielder who can also play right back, was standout in Chivas Guadalajara′s youth system, before making his Mexican First Division debut for Chivas at age 19, coming on as a 76th-minute sub in a 4-2 win at Necaxa on April 15, 2001. From 2001-2006, Barrera would make 45 first-division appearances for Guadalajara (23 starts), recording 1 assist and 1 goal and logging 1,946 minutes. He has also represented Chivas in the Copa Libertadores and InterLiga, among other international competitions. In 2006, Barrera spent six months on loan with Mexican First Division club Gallos Blancos de Querétaro, where he played 8 games (4 starts) during the Apertura 2006 season, logging 427 minutes.
Éder Robles, an 18-year-old left back who can also play in midfield, returns to Chivas USA for his second year as a Developmental Player. Born in Torrance, California and raised in nearby Lynwood, Robles was a standout for Saint John Bosco High School (Bellflower) and club side Pateadores (Coast Soccer League), before joining the Chivas USA U-19′s in 2006. After representing the U-19′s at the 2006 Copa Saprissa in Costa Rica in May, he signed a Developmental Contract with Chivas USA in September. Robles joins Rodrgio López and fellow U-19 standout Carlos Borja as Chivas USA′s three returning Developmental Players from the 2006 season.
Cameron Dunn, a versatile 22-year-old defender, was selected by Chivas USA with its fourth-round pick (46th overall) in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of California, Irvine. Born and raised in Alta Loma, California, Dunn was a three-year letterwinner, team captain and Mt. Baldy League MVP at Alta Loma High School, while also running hurdles for the track team. After redshirting as a freshman in 2002, having appeared in just one game, Dunn went on to play 73 games for U.C. Irvine from 2003-2006 (starting 72), notching one assist, while majoring in sociology. In 2006, he was named to the All-Big West Conference second team. During college, he also played for the Orange County Blue Stars (PDL), following his successful club career under coach Steve Lucy at Arsenal FC (Coast Soccer League).
Mohammed Sethi, a 19-year-old midfielder from Mequon, Wisconsin, joins Chivas USA as a discovery pick. A 2005 graduate of Homestead High School in Mequon, where he played under head coach Rich Dorn, he was named to the Wisconsin All-State Team following his junior (2003) and senior (2004) seasons. He also was named runner-up to the Wisconsin High School Player of the Year award following his junior year. Sethi honed his skills playing for club coach Michael Konovalenko, before playing for club side Croatian of the Men′s Major Division of the Wisconsin Adult Soccer Association after gratuation from high school.
