Update

It’s official, the Union have signed Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Valdes. From the announcement on the Union website:

“We are very happy to have agreed to deals with both Faryd and Carlos,” said Team Manager Peter Nowak. “It is great to have an experienced player, such as Faryd, show his desire and commitment to become a member of the Philadelphia Union family. We believe he will be a valuable mentor to our younger players.

“We also believe Carlos will have a big impact in the center of the backline. Along with Faryd, we have added two Colombian internationals who will solidify our defense and provide competition for our returning players. We believe Carlos will be an important player for the club, both on the field and in the locker room.”

Union

Yesterday’s announcement that we’ll be posting live updates from Fado beginning around 11:30am.

Matthew Marcin is very excited to be picked by the Union. “Oh, man, I am so excited. My mom called after I was picked and told me, and I was so happy. I went to a couple of Union games last season and my mom and dad went a lot. They’re huge fans. I’m a huge fan, and I really like the way they play. I’m very excited about joining them for preseason training.”

Independence

The Independence have signed Spanish international forwards Laura del Rio and Veronica Boquete. Both players were free agents. Del Rio last played for the Boston Breakers and Boquete with the now defunct Chicago Red Stars.

MLS

LA Galaxy have signed Juan Pablo Angel as their third Designated Player.

Chicago Fire DP Nery Castillo has joined Greek side FC Aris.

Three teams announced re-signings yesterday and the Dynamo signed two players from their academy.

The Energy Drinks deny reports that Rafael “The PPL Pitch is Crap” Marquez is training in Mexico with Primera Division side Atlas, his first club.

The Cantona-Cosmos connection has caused quite a stir. This blog says that connection could help to take MLS to a new level. I suppose the Cosmos would first have to, you know, actually join the league, have a stadium and field actual professional players and such.

In more gosh-I-wish-we-were-an-MLS-team news, FC Tampa Bay (Rowdies) will now be playing in St, Petersburg. And while AC St. Louis are no more, the stadium they played in is not for sale.

Along the same lines, Boca Juniors continue to be interested in establishing a MLS team, a la Chivas USA.

After 13 seasons with MLS, Carey Talley hangs up his boots.

US

More on Eugene Starikov, the Ukrainian-American training with the USMNT.

Oguchi Onyewu went the full 90 for FC Twente—at left back— yesterday in their 5–0 romp over Heracles Almelo. Onyewu scored in a friendly for FC Twente on Saturday.

Jozy Altidore could go on loan from Villareal to Sporting Gijon.

Elsewhere

FIFA now says there are no plans to move the 2022 World Cup to winter.

UK sports minister Hugh Robertson calls football the worst governed sport in Britain.