

Samuel Inkoom

[UPDATES with official confirmation from club]

With the MLS roster deadline approaching, D.C. United has signed Samuel Inkoom, a right back for Ghana at the past two World Cups.

Inkoom, 25, was a free agent after playing five years in Europe: Basel (Switzerland), Dnipro (Ukraine), Bastia (France) and Platanias (Greece).

He will provide cover for all-star Sean Franklin on the backline and offer depth on the right side of midfield for the final six weeks of the regular season and the CONCACAF Champions League. He can also play left back.

Inkoom started twice during the 2010 World Cup — against the United States in the round of 16 and Uruguay in the quarterfinals — but did not appear in any of Ghana’s group matches in Brazil this summer. He has featured in nine World Cup qualifiers (four in the 2010 cycle, five ahead of the 2014 event). At the under-20 level, Inkoom started for the 2009 World Cup squad that defeated Brazil in the final.

Last club season, Inkoom joined Platanias in January on loan from Dnipro and started 15 times at right back.

United had a player in camp this week but declined to identify him. In addition, without revealing details, General Manager Dave Kasper said Thursday that the club was attempting to finalize an acquisition before the league’s Sept. 15 freeze.

“We are pleased to be adding an experienced player in Samuel who will provide us solid depth at the wide midfield and outside back positions,” Kasper said in a prepared statement Friday.

Inkoom, who will wear No. 21, is eligible right away but the club won’t say whether he will join the squad in Vancouver on Saturday night. United will then visit New York on Wednesday.