FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution today announced the signing of midfielder Xavier Kouassi as a Designated Player. Kouassi will be added to the club’s roster during the Secondary Transfer Window upon the expiration of his contract with Swiss side FC Sion on June 30, pending receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
"Xavier is an athletic, versatile player,” said Revolution General Manager Michael Burns. “We believe he will add a presence to our midfield and improve the overall quality of our team."
Kouassi, 26, will join the Revolution following his third season with Swiss Super League side FC Sion. The midfielder has captained the club for the last two seasons and paced it in minutes played during the 2014/15 campaign. In total, he has logged 7,062 minutes and four assists in 82 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the club’s lineup. This season, he has captained FC Sion into the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, marking one of the club’s most successful outings in a European competition where the club faced Liverpool FC in the group stage amongst others. In addition, Sion has never lost a final in its107-year history and Kouassi helped lead the club to its 13th Swiss Cup title in 2015 against the league favorite, FC Basel. The Revolution also acquired defender Jose Goncalves from Sion in 2013.
"As captain and leader of his current Club we feel we've acquired a player in Xavier who is in the prime of his career,” said Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps. “We look forward to his arrival."
- Captain of Swiss Super League side FC Sion
- Former captain of Swiss Super League side Servette FC
- Seven career starts in UEFA Europa League matches
- 2015 Swiss Cup Champion
- Capped by the Ivorian National Team
Prior to joining FC Sion, Kouassi spent four seasons with Swiss Super League side Servette FC. He recorded two goals, four assists, and 8,616 minutes played in 104 appearances for Les Grenats, also wearing the captain’s armband in several matches for the club during the 2012/13 campaign. Kouassi joined Servette FC from Séwé Sport de San-Pédro, a club in the Ivory Coast Ligue 1.
Kouassi represents the Ivory Coast internationally, earning his first cap in a 2011 friendly versus Israel.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign midfielder Xavier Kouassi as a Discovery Signing
Name: Xavier Kouassi (koo-WAH-see)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 152
Hometown: San Pédro, Côte d’Ivoire
Date of Birth: December 28, 1989 (Toumodi, Côte d’Ivoire)
Nationality: Ivory Coast
Last Club: FC Sion (Switzerland)
