The Philadelphia Union lost veteran midfielder Justin Mapp to the Montreal Impact in today's Expansion Draft. The Union wasted no time in picking up midfielder Nizar Khalfan from the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Waiver Draft. The Union released defender Juan Diego Gonzalez and goalkeeper Thorne Holder in order to make room for Khalfan. Neither Gonzalez nor Holder made an appearance for the Union this season. Holder did play in reserve league matches but sustained two concussions.
Khalfan played in 22 matches for Vancouver in 2011, starting in 9 of them. He scored one goal and had four assists. The 23-year-old Tanzanian international has scored five goals for his country in 25 appearances. Khalfan started his professional career in Tanzania and joined the Whitecaps in 2009 when they were still in the USL First Division and remained with the team as they moved up to MLS.
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