New York Red Bulls sign forward Dante Vanzeir from Belgian side Union SG for $5.4million… with the former second-division Golden Boot winner ‘set to become RBNY’s club-record signing’
The New York Red Bulls could be breaking the bank for Belgian forward Dante Vanzeir from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, signing him for $5.5million.
The 24-year-old center forward is Union SG’s top scorer this season – with 12 goals and two assists in 28 games.
He’s moving to the Red Bulls for a reported fee of $5.5million – which could balloon more with add-ons, leading to Vanzeir becoming the club’s record signing.
In accordance with MLS rules, Vanzeir occupies a designated player spot reserved for international players
That spot was recently freed up when RBNY moved Polish striker Patryk Klimala to Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Belgian forward Dante Vanzeir is on the move to MLS club New York Red Bulls for $5.5million
‘We are very excited to add Dante to our club,’ head of sport Jochen Schneider said in a release.
‘He is a top-class professional and is highly motivated to show his skills here in the United States, we are excited to see him on the pitch at Red Bull Arena soon.’
‘Dante is a great human being and has goal-scoring ability; we are happy to have him in New York,’ head coach Gerhard Struber said in a release. ‘He is a very talented player, and he will help us accomplish our goals for the 2023 season.’
In 79 matches with Union SG, Vanzeir scored 43 goals and helped the club get promoted to the Belgian First Division for the first time in 48 years.
During the promotion campaign, Vanzeir bagged 19 goals and eight assists in 24 matches to win the league’s golden boot.
Vanzeir won the Golden Boot in the second division and has been key to the team’s success
Last season, the club’s first after promotion to the top flight, they miraculously finished second and just four points behind title winners Club Brugge.
That made them eligible for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where they unfortunately fell to Rangers. Vanzeir scored a crucial penalty in the first match to win that leg 2-0, but the team gave up three in the return fixture at Ibrox.
Union SG did qualify for the UEFA Europa League winning…