What Ruan's Arrival Means for FC Dallas

While it's been a quiet summer transfer window for a roster working to get healthy, a veteran right back is a welcome boost for Dallas.

FC Dallas fans on social media have been pretty vocal about their team’s silence so far during this summer transfer window.

Yes, we grabbed a loan player, a defensive midfielder, who might “Show” us something special, but otherwise, it has been quiet.

The big picture is that the team is without a permanent head coach. Normally in this situation, teams choose to sell more than buy during a transfer window. Peter Luccin as the interim has done a solid job turning results around despite dealing with injuries, and he is making a good case for the permanent position. So does the front office go out and take a swing at some guys that fit Luccin’s style, even if there is a chance Luccin isn’t around longer term?

That’s a tough thing for the front office to think through. FC Dallas has traditionally been fairly conservative too in splashing out for transfers. Alan Velasco and Petar Musa are the most recent big buys, and if Velasco continues to get healthy, his return could feel like a new signing. This summer, especially with the team below the playoff line, was never going to be about big expenditures.

But today, a move was made, an interesting move that sort of checks the boxes off of the situation the front office finds themselves in.

Ruan, a veteran Brazilian right back, arrives from Montreal, a team in the midst of an overhaul of their own under new leadership. The price was a bargain, $50k in GAM. Basically, Dallas gets a player with lots of experience, who scored against them way back in the beginning of the season, in a significant position of need. And the risk might be pretty low.

For example, some chatter indicates Ruan may be in the final year of his deal, so he gets a chance to impress and earn a contract extension in a new city. If it doesn’t work out, Dallas didn’t break the bank, and they can let him go to open up cap space. But if it works out, especially with Geovane Jesus becoming a longer and longer term injury situation, Dallas might get a boost for the push into a playoff spot.

If there is a loser for the deal, it’s Ema Twumasi, who has been a mainstay and a solid roster guy for this team, but he has never unlocked the offensive skillset he was originally known for as a right back. Maybe he sticks around as a rotational piece, or maybe this allows the team to move on from him or test his value in a trade market come winter.

It’s possible FC Dallas make some moves still in the days ahead, but I’m not holding my breath. If they do, they’ll be these kinds of “thread the needle” scenarios, providing options in the present for Luccin to succeed but not miring the team in a long term deal in case a new head coach, say Gregg Berhalter, wants to shake up things.

Statistically, Ruan is an upgrade. The dude has six assists so far this season, which alone opens up a world of possibilities for FC Dallas. When was the last time we had outside backs have that passing pedigree? I didn’t go over every one of those passes, but it’s promising and worth giving the guy a start. With Musa needing more service, Ruan is a huge addition.