Williams saddened, stunned by Union trade

Defender Sheanon Williams, a fan favorite who joined the Union late in their inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2010, was emotional Thursday after learning he was traded along with an international spot to the Houston Dynamo for general allocation money and future considerations.

"It is definitely sad," Williams said. "I love this club and would have liked nothing more than to spend a long time here, and it didn't work out that way."

This is obviously the forerunner to another move. The Union were up against MLS's $3.49 million salary budget. Williams' guaranteed salary this year is $150,500.

"Sheanon has represented the club well during his time here and we wish him the best of luck in Houston," Union technical director Chris Albright said. "However, this allows us the flexibility to make additional moves both short and long term."

Those moves must be made in the MLS transfer window, which runs until Aug. 6. MLS teams have eight international spots but are able to trade them as well.

The Union have been linked to Swiss international forward Tanquillo Barnetta. A source familiar with the team's thinking said it believes he would be an immediate impact player.

Here is what Union coach Jim Curtin said about Barnetta when asked about him recently: "He is on our radar, but no decisions really have been made on a player of his quality."

The Union have been openly attempting to move goalie Rais Mbolhi, who is earning $350,000 but has not played since the fifth game after he and the team had a falling out.

A source indicated that the Union were close to dealing Mbolhi twice last week, but both deals fell through at the last minute.

The Union have had Chilean midfielder Santiago Dittborn and Salvadoran forward Rodolfo Zelaya in recently for trials. Zelaya's MLS rights are owned by FC Dallas. A source said that the Union didn't consider either of those two "major" signings.

Owner of one of the longest throw-ins, Williams was seen as expendable as an outside back because of the emergence of Fabinho. The other outside defender is Ray Gaddis.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Williams also has the ability to play center back, but Curtin preferred to use taller players in the middle.

The writing was on the wall for Williams, who played a total of 14 minutes in the Union's three previous MLS games and did not see any action Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Toronto.

Williams, 25, was the longest-tenured player on the club. He was signed by the Union on Aug. 31, 2010, from their United Soccer League affiliate in Harrisburg. That season, Williams made eight starts for the Union and became a fixture on the back line for much of the time since.

He appeared in 141 games for the Union, making 138 starts, with seven goals and 19 assists.

Williams helped the Union advance to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals Tuesday in a win against the New York Red Bulls. After a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, the Union won, 4-3, on penalty kicks. Williams converted the first penalty kick.

"I am glad I can go out with that as my last contribution to this team," Williams said. "I always tried to do my best to do anything I can for this team. That can be my last moment."

The Union (6-11-4) had off from practice Wednesday and Thursday after the exhausting Open Cup win.

They played a man down after the 40th minute when Conor Casey received a red card.