FRISCO, Texas – It’s been a year of big signings for FC Dallas. The latest: U.S. international Sebastian Lletget.
Dallas acquired the veteran midfielder from the New England Revolution for $600,000 in GAM just ahead of the MLS transfer window closure on Aug. 4. The 29-year-old reunites in Dallas with USMNT teammates Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira, as well as head coach Nico Estévez who worked with all three during his time with the U.S. Men's National Team.
Estévez’s prior experience with Lletget was instrumental in Dallas’ acquisition of the California native. Twenty-eight of Lletget’s 33 caps came during Estévez’s time as the U.S.'s assistant coach, as did seven of his eight international goals. Estévez, Lletget and newly named MLS All-Star Arriola won two major Concacaf titles together when they lifted the Nations League and Gold Cup last summer.
“It could be a great move as far as the similarities in how the national team plays and how Dallas plays, it's almost going to be an easier transition for trying to make it back into the national team,” Lletget told FCDallas.com. “And for me, I just want to keep building on that and keep adding value to the team. Individually, I want to try to shine and I think the way the team plays will put me in a great position to do that.
“When I heard that this was a possibility to work with him (Estévez) again and kind of go back to how we do things at the national team level because he does things very similarly, it was a no-brainer.”
Lletget spent seven seasons playing a variety of roles for LA Galaxy before swapping coasts to join the Revolution this past winter. He played 19 times for Bruce Arena’s team, contributing two goals and four assists, mainly from the right wing. For Dallas, Lletget will likely lineup as an advanced midfielder in Estévez’s preferred 4-3-3 formation. Homegrown Brandon Servania and rookie draft pick Tsiki Ntsabeleng have been splitting time as Paxton Pomykal’s partner in midfield but neither has won the job outright. The addition of Lletget will offer further high-level competition in that spot.
“First of all, he's an experienced player in the league and in the West Conference,” Estévez said. "He brings quality in the last third of the field. He arrives to the penalty box, scores goals and assists, brings hold up play because he's a player that is very secure with the ball.
“I've worked with him the last three years with the national team and he's a great guy, great for the locker room, humble and a hard worker. He gets along with any player of any age, he speaking to two languages, Spanish and English. I think this will help him get close the guys and and get along with them.”
Lletget, who'll take the No. 12 jersey, will join up with his new teammates ahead of FC Dallas’ next match against conference rivals Portland Timbers on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 9:30PM at Providence Park. The match will be broadcast on TXA 21 and FCDallas.com/Stream in DFW, as well as ESPN+ outside of the metroplex.
