CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati has acquired forward Darren Mattocks, midfielder Roland Lamah, midfielder Eric Alexander and defender Hassan Ndam in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft. In addition, Cincinnati selected Kei Kamara from Vancouver Whitecaps FC and traded his rights for an international roster spot.
Expansion Draft Summary:
- Selected forward Darren Mattocks from D.C. United with the first pick in the Expansion Draft
- Selected forward Kei Kamara from Vancouver Whitecaps FC with the second pick in the Expansion Draft and traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for an international roster spot.
- Selected midfielder Roland Lamah from FC Dallas with the third pick in the Expansion Draft
- Selected midfielder Eric Alexander from the Houston Dynamo with the fourth pick in the Expansion Draft
- Selected defender Hassan Ndam from the New York Red Bulls with the fifth pick in the Expansion Draft
FC Cincinnati’s first selection in the Expansion Draft was forward Darren Mattocks from D.C. United. Originally a No. 2 overall selection by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, The Akron University product has played for Vancouver (2012-16), Portland (2016-17) and D.C. United (2018) over the course of his seven-year MLS career. He has made 161 career appearances, including 89 starts, scored 34 goals and added 11 assists. In 2018, Mattocks tallied a career-high 10 goals for D.C. United. In addition to his regular-season experience, Mattocks has featured in five MLS Cup Playoffs matches over the course of his career. The forward has also made 42 career appearances with Jamaica since making his international debut in 2012. Mattocks has scored a combined 17 goals and has added two assists across all competitions for the Reggae Boyz
With the third selection, FC Cincinnati selected midfielder Roland Lamah from FC Dallas. Lamah joins FC Cincinnati after two years with FC Dallas, where he made 61 appearances, scored 19 goals and added nine assists. In his 12-year professional career across all competitions, Lamah has made 361 appearances, scored 67 goals and added 55 assists.
With the fourth selection, FC Cincinnati selected veteran MLS midfielder Eric Alexander from the Houston Dynamo. Alexander, 30, joins FC Cincinnati after nine MLS seasons with FC Dallas (2010-2011), Portland Timbers (2011-12), New York Red Bulls (2013-14), Montreal Impact (2015-16) and Houston Dynamo (2016-18). The midfielder has made 212 appearances, including 161 starts, scored nine goals and added 24 assists in MLS regular-season play. In addition, Alexander has made 14 career MLS Cup Playoffs appearances and has contributed a goal and an assist in postseason play.
FC Cincinnati’s fifth selection in the Expansion Draft was defender Hassan Ndam from the New York Red Bulls. Ndam, 20, has made four appearances across all competitions with the New York Red Bulls since he arrived from Rainbow FC Bamenda prior to the start of the 2017 MLS season. The towering defender has been a regular starter for New York Red Bulls II since last season. The Cameroonian has made a combined 58 appearances, including 56 starts, and has scored three goals for Red Bulls II in USL regular-season play.
Additionally, FC Cincinnati selected forward Kei Kamara with the second pick, however, his rights were traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for an international roster spot.
The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada. Season tickets for the 2019 season are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati acquired F Darren Mattocks, M Roland Lamah, M Eric Alexander and D Hassan Ndam in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft
Transaction: FC Cincinnati acquired an international roster spot from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the rights to F Kei Kamara.
DARREN MATTOCKS
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Birthdate: September 2, 1990
Birthplace: Portmore, Jamaica
Hometown: Portmore, Jamaica
Last Club: D.C. United (MLS)
Nationality: Jamaica
MLS Roster Status: Domestic Player
Twitter: @DarrenMattocks
How Acquired: Via the first selection of the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft
ROLAND LAMAH
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 157
Birthdate: December 31, 1987
Birthplace: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Hometown: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Last Club: FC Dallas (MLS)
Nationality: Ivory Coast
MLS Roster Status: International Player
How Acquired: Via the third selection of the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft
ERIC ALEXANDER
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
Birthdate: April 14, 1988
Birthplace: Portage, Mich.
Hometown: Portage, Mich.
Last Club: Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Nationality: United States
MLS Roster Status: Domestic Player
Twitter: @EzDoesIt17
How Acquired: Via the fourth selection of the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft
HASSAN NDAM
Position: Defender
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210
Birthdate: October 29, 1998
Birthplace: Foumban, Cameroon
Hometown: Foumban, Cameroon
Last Club: New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Nationality: Cameroon
MLS Roster Status: International Player
Twitter: @Hassanndam47
How Acquired: Via the fifth selection of the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft
