D.C. United have announced that the club has acquired goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

United sends fellow goalkeeper Troy Perkins to Portland in exchange for the MLS veteran and allocation money. Cronin returns to the Black-and-Red following a brief stint in Washington during the 2009 season. This is United's second offseason transaction with the Portland Timbers in 2010, as the club sent defender Rodney Wallace and a 2011 SuperDraft selection to the expansion side in exchange for midfielder Dax McCarty on November 24.

"We are very familiar with Steve's ability in goal and we are pleased to welcome him back to D.C. United," said General Manager Dave Kasper. "He is a solid, young goalkeeper with several years of experience under his belt, and we fully expect him to compete for the starting goalkeeper job. This move will permit us to have greater flexibility with future moves to strengthen our team."

Kasper continues, "We want to thank Troy for his time with the club, and we wish him well with his new opportunity with the Timbers."