Taxiarchis Fountas joins D.C. United immediately - Rapid Vienna voice disappointment

D.C. United and Rapid Vienna have come to an agreement for the immediate transfer of forward Taxiarchis Fountas. Fountas was originally going to join the Major League Soccer club on a free transfer in the summer but both clubs reached an agreement for spring transfer last week. Transfermarkt can confirm a report by the Washington Post that Rapid will receive $400,000 and the Greek striker has joined D.C. United and signed a Designated Player (DP) contract until 2024 with a club option for one additional year. 

“We are extremely excited to accelerate the acquisition of Taxi and get him integrated with the first team ahead of the initial pre-contract timeline we announced in January of a July arrival,” D.C. United president of soccer operations Dave Kasper said in a club statement. “We feel as though he is a player who is capable of making an immediate impact on the team and it was important for us to get him here as soon as possible.”

The Greek striker scored 45 goals and 19 assists in 91 games since joining Rapid from St. Pölten in 2019. This year the striker has scored seven goals and four assists in 17 Austrian Bundesliga games but has been missing the last three games as he pushed for a transfer to MLS. 

Fountas to D.C. United - Rapid Vienna unimpressed about striker's "behavior"

Fountas' push for a transfer to MLS has left a sour taste in Austria. "The behavior by Taxi Fountas was unworthy for a Rapid Vienna player," club director Christoph Peschek said in a Rapid statement. "Our club stands for respectful behavior to one another and we will never respect or accept sabotaging rightfully signed contracts and will fight for our rights both internally but also externally, if necessary by legal means. SK Rapid always keeps their contractual obligations and we expect the same from our respective partners."