FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution announced today that the club has re-signed forward Teal Bunbury to a new, multi-year contract. The 24-year-old was acquired by the Revs in February 2014 and went on to play in 37 games for the club in all competitions last year, tallying six goals and eight assists, which were good for the second most on the team. Used primarily on the right wing after spending the majority of his career as a central forward, Bunbury set new personal regular-season records in games played, games started, assists and shots on goal last season. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We’re excited to bring Teal back this season,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said. “Teal is a talented, young player who’s brought a dynamic element to our system, and we’re expecting him to continue being a key contributor on the field.”
Bunbury led the Revs with a career-best six assists, doubling his previous career-high, in 31 regular-season games while adding four goals in his first season with the Revolution. He scored his first-ever goal for the club in a 2-0 home win over his former club – Sporting Kansas City – on April 26, scoring the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time. He added another goal in a home win over Sporting in early September, while also tallying in wins over Seattle and Toronto FC.
“I am thankful to be able to remain with the Revs and help this club continue to build on what we accomplished last season,” Bunbury said. “We have a close knit team that is capable of winning a championship and I look forward to being a part of that.”
After tallying two goals and two assists in his final seven regular season games, Bunbury continued his fine form into the postseason, adding two goals and two assists while starting all five games that the Revs played en route to reaching MLS Cup for the first time since 2007. One of four players to play every minute during the club’s postseason run, Bunbury had a goal and an assist in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series against Columbus, helping the Revs claim a 3-1 win in the game and 7-3 series win on aggregate. Two weeks later, in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship against the New York Red Bulls, Bunbury scored to give New England a 1-0 first half lead and then set up Jermaine Jones’ game-winning goal in the 85th minute.
After spending the first four years of his MLS career in Kansas City, scoring 19 regular-season goals, adding seven assists and helping Sporting win the U.S. Open Cup in 2012 and the MLS Cup in 2013, Bunbury was traded to the Revs on February 19, 2014 and immediately became a central figure in a New England attack that scored nearly 70 goals in all competitions last year.
Bunbury and the rest of the Revolution will open preseason training ahead of the club’s 20th season of play later this month.
