Chester, Pa. (May 17, 2012) – Philadelphia Union today announced that the club has traded defender Danny Califf to Chivas USA in exchange for midfielder Michael Lahoud and allocation money. Per MLS and club policies, the terms of the trade will not be disclosed.

"We want to thank Danny Califf for his contributions to the Union on and off the field and wish him well in his career,” said manager Peter Nowak. “In Michael Lahoud we are getting another young versatile player who we believe will have an opportunity to establish himself as a Union player while helping us achieve our goals throughout the season.”



Califf was officially signed by the Union on January 21, 2010 after spending the previous four years playing in Denmark for FC Midtjylland and Aalborg Bk. The veteran became a mainstay in the center of Philadelphia's defense with his physically imposing style of play and was voted the team’s first ever captain. Califf logged 5,894 minutes for the club, posting one goal and one assist in 65 matches.



"I want to take this opportunity to give my sincerest thanks to all our fans, the city of Philadelphia and all of my teammates that I have played with,” said Califf. “You have opened your heart and welcomed this California kid like just another one of yous guys!!"



Lahoud was drafted by Chivas USA in the first round (ninth overall) in the 2009 SuperDraft and has made 64 appearances for the club, including 46 starts. He has tallied two goals and seven assists in nearly 4,000 minutes of action. A four-year starter at Wake Forest, Lahoud led the Demon Deacons to the 2007 NCAA National Championship and finished his career with 14 goals and 20 assists. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Lahoud and his family moved to the Washington, D.C. area at the age of three.



Name: Michael Lahoud

Pronunciation: Michael La-whod

Number: 13

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-8

Weight: 162

Born: September 15, 1986

Birthplace: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Hometown: Annandale, Virginia

Citizenship: USA

Last Club: Chivas USA