Mystery Man Revealed

By Brian O'Connell
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Updated: February 1, 2016

Weeks after Revolution president Brian Bilello tweeted about an impending designated player signing, the club announced the addition of FC Sion defensive midfielder Xavier Kouassi to the roster on Monday.

Kouassi, 26, was on the Revolution’s discovery list prior to his addition. The club’s newest designated player signing will officially join the club during the summer transfer window, shortly after the completion of his contract with Sion and upon receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. He will occupy one of the Revolution’s seven international roster spots.

“Xavier is an athletic, versatile player,” said Revolution General Manager Michael Burns in a club release on Monday. “We believe he will add a presence to our midfield and improve the overall quality of our team.”

Terms of Kouassi’s deal were not disclosed, per MLS and club policy. According to transfermarkt.com, the midfielder’s market value was projected at $1.6 million in December.

The Ivory Coast international skippered Sion to the 2015 Swiss Super League Cup, the club’s 13th in its 107-year history. He served as club captain for the last two seasons, during which he recorded 82 appearances and scored four goals across all competitions.

In 2015-16, he was a major part of the club’s Europa League Round of 32 run, starting three matches and assisting on Ebenezer Assifuah’s goal in a 1-1 draw to Liverpool on Oct. 1.

Although the midfielder recently missed four games due to a back injury, he currently holds the third-highest player rating among Sion players on the global soccer statistics site whoscored.com.

“As captain and leader of his current club, we feel we’ve acquired a player in Xavier who is in the prime of his career,” said Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps said in a club release on Monday. “We look forward to his arrival.”

The addition of Kouassi addresses the gaping void left by the departure of another designated player, Jermaine Jones, who currently remains out of contract. Last week, Jones publicly slammed the Revolution’s latest contract offer, calling it “a joke.”

At 5-8, 152 lbs., Kouassi is shorter in stature to Jones, who measures at 6-0, 170lbs., but is eight years younger than the U.S. international. The Ivory Coast international does have a similar penchant for bookings, as he’s collected 26 cautions and four dismissals during his time with Sion.

The signing of Kouassi is the second Sion player the Revolution have acquired over the last three years. In January 2013, the team added center back Jose Goncalves via loan before exercising his purchase option following the season, one in which he earned MLS Defender of the Year honors. Interestingly, Kouassi arrived at Sion a year after Goncalves’ departure.

With Kouassi unavailable until July, the Revolution will likely look to veteran midfielders Daigo Kobayashi and Scott Caldwell to fill the role of the no. 6 spot.