After a perfunctory denial of reports out of England, the Red Bulls confirmed what most of the soccer world already knew: the Major League Soccer club had acquired midfielder Tim Cahill, 32, from Everton of England’s Premier League.

Cahill was at the team’s training base at Montclair State University on Thursday, but he is not expected to play at Montreal on Saturday. The Red Bulls will introduce Cahill, their third designated player, at a news conference at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., on Monday.

In a statement, Cahill said:

“I am very happy to start a new chapter of my career with the New York Red Bulls. As we have seen over the past few years, M.L.S. has developed into a very competitive league with many talented players. I am impressed with what the Red Bulls are trying to accomplish in M.L.S. and within American soccer, and I am looking forward to this new challenge. I will do everything I can to help bring New York its first M.L.S. Cup.”

Cahill, a native of Sydney, Australia, was reported headed to the Red Bulls when Everton posted news on Monday of the transaction on its Web site, saying that Cahill would leave for “a nominal fee,” believed to be in the $1 million range for his transfer. The Red Bulls denied the report at the time as the club negotiated a new contract for Cahill.

Ali Haider/European Pressphoto Agency

Cahill, an Australian international, is being slotted in as the Red Bulls’ attacking midfielder, their No. 10, if you will, planted behind the team’s two forwards. Now with the addition of Cahill, Hans Backe will have the luxury of dealing with a bit of a logjam and more depth than he has had in his three seasons as Red Bulls coach.

Who starts up front with Thierry Henry? The newly acquired Sebastien Le Toux or Kenny Cooper, who has scored 13 goals this season? And who sits in the midfield? The impressive rookie Connor Lade? The veteran Joel Lindpere (who signed a new contract at the beginning of the season)? The steady Jan Gunnar Solli? Dealing with those questions and the expectations that go with them will be a pleasant task for Backe and his first-place Red Bulls.

“We are absolutely thrilled to bring in a player of Tim’s caliber to the Red Bulls,” Erik Soler, the team’s general manager and sporting director, said in a statement. “He is the technical, physical presence we have been looking to add in our team, and he brings a wealth of experience to our club having played in some of the highest levels of international soccer. Tim is a proven leader both on and off the field, and we believe that he can help us immediately in our quest to win the M.L.S. Cup this season.”

On Tuesday, Henry told MLSsoccer.com that the addition of Cahill would only help the club.

“He’s going to be great,” Henry said ahead of the M.L.S. All-Star Game, which was played Wednesday. “He’s going to be a great asset for us and also for the league. If you saw the guy play the way he plays, I love the commitment, and I always loved his commitment. He’s great in the box, his headers are unbelievable. He fights back to the net, and his football I.Q. is great also. Hopefully that can be a plus for us.”

Cahill joined Everton in 2004 from Millwall and made 278 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 68 goals. He has also made 55 international appearances for Australia, playing in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

The acquisition of Cahill brings to an end a series of player rumors that included Kaká, Ronaldinho, Stephen Ireland and others. Do you think Cahill is the last piece of the puzzle for the Red Bulls as they push to win a league title, which would be the club’s first, this season? When Cahill plays, who should sit?

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