D.C. United Makes a Smart Move with Servania | OneFootball

D.C. United made a solid move by locking in Brandon Servania as a free agent, signing him through 2026 with an option for 2027. Smart play, right? No doubt. But is he the guy who’s gonna take the team to the next level and push them back into the playoffs after five long years of missing out? That’s the real question.

Bringing Servania in feels like a safe bet. At 25, he’s got experience with FC Dallas and Toronto FC, racking up 5 goals and 8 assists in 98 games. Those numbers won’t blow you away, but they’re not terrible for a midfielder who tends to work behind the scenes, setting things up for the forwards. He’s the kind of player who knits the game together, runs his socks off for 90 minutes, and does all that dirty work that never really gets noticed on the stat sheet.

D.C. United’s in rebuild mode. Since Wayne Rooney’s messy exit, they’ve been struggling to find their identity. Under Troy Lesesne’s leadership, the team wants to get back to being a force to be reckoned with. But to do that, they need players who’ll make a real impact.

Don’t get me wrong. Servania’s a solid player. But what’s got people raising an eyebrow is that he’s the third midfielder the team’s brought in this winter, after Hosei Kijima and Randall Leal. That tells you a lot about the state of things. When you’re signing three guys for the same position, you know something’s been out of whack.

The big win with Servania? Versatility. He’s got the chops to play box-to-box, helping both in defense and going forward, and he’s got a pretty solid passing game. He’s not exactly the maestro of the midfield, but he’s got enough vision to make a few clever plays. He’s that player who lifts up his teammates, even if he’s not the star.

What’s exciting about this deal is that Servania already knows the league. He’s been in MLS his whole career, he’s played with the U.S. youth national teams, and he knows what the league’s all about. No need to adjust to the pace of play, no settling in. He’s ready to hit the ground running, and that’s a huge plus.

Plus, he’s already been training with the team during preseason and has made a solid impression. Ally Mackay, the club’s GM, made it clear that they see Servania as a dynamic midfielder who can carry the ball and create opportunities.

But here’s the thing: if D.C. United wants to be a real contender, they can’t rely on guys like Servania to be the game-changers. He’s a nice addition, sure, but he’s not the type of player who’s going to flip the script on his own.

On paper, D.C. United still doesn’t scare anyone. The team’s heading into 2025 with more questions than answers, and Lesesne’s got his work cut out for him trying to get things in order. The good news? MLS is full of surprises. A well-coached, competitive squad can make noise, even without the big-name stars.