The Houston Dynamo have acquired Targeted Allocation Money from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for defender Kofi Sarkofie in a sign-and-trade, the club announced today.

Targeted Allocation Money allows MLS clubs to further invest in their roster outside of the player salary budget and may be used in four ways:

Clubs may use the funds to sign a new player, provided his salary and acquisition costs are more than the maximum salary budget.

Clubs may re-sign an existing player, provided he is earning more than the maximum salary budget.

Clubs may buy down the budget charge of an existing Designated Player (no longer making that player a DP), provided the club concurrently signs a new Designated Player at an investment equal to or greater than the player he is replacing.

Clubs may trade their Targeted Allocation Money to another club.

Sarkodie, 25, made 124 career appearances (120 starts) in all competitions over five seasons with the Dynamo. The Dayton, Ohio native was selected by the Dynamo with the No. 7 selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. The right back was named Dynamo Defender of the Year in 2013 and matched a club record with 44 appearances across all competitions. He started 11 playoff games with the Dynamo, including the 2012 MLS Cup Final.