Union sign attacker Fafa Picault for 1-year contract

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CHESTER, Pa. — Fafa Picault is officially joining the Union

In the latest of a series of big roster additions, the Union signed the speedy attacker Picault to a one-year deal Thursday. Picault, who was on trial with the Union, is a Discovery Signing. 

“We are excited to bring Fafa to our club for the 2017 season,” Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said. “He provides depth for us and brings a lot of excitement with his speed and ability to move up and down the pitch.” 

The 25-year-old New York native is an interesting addition to the Union. Primarily used as a center forward throughout his career, Picault would need to wrestle with C.J. Sapong, Jay Simpson and Charlie Davies for playing time. However, given his speed and the Union’s roster makeup, Picault is expected to be used to spell Chris Pontius as a left wing attacker, which isn’t a position of depth for the Union.

He also adds a speedy dynamic the team didn’t possess last season.

“Fafa Picault adds an element of speed that I can’t teach,” Union manager Jim Curtin said Saturday. “It’s a different level of speed. He can really fly and comes from a good environment in Germany. He’s hungry.”

Picault always brings a varied but experienced background. Beginning his youth career in Italy with Cagliari, he played 18 games with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2012 and 24 with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2014. He eventually moved to AC Sparta Prague in Europe before landing at FC St. Pauli, where he has resided since 2015.

Picault also picked up the first cap of his career with the U.S. Men’s National Team in a 2016 friendly against Puerto Rico. 

Signing Picault is the latest move for the suddenly active Union, who have added defender Oguchi Onyewu and midfielder Haris Medunjanin in recent days. The Union travel to Clearwater, Florida, Tuesday to partake in the second phase of the preseason. They face the Tampa Bay Rowdies in an exhibition match on Feb. 18.

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