CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati selected former Philadelphia Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin (pronounced Harris meh-DOON-yuh-nihn) with the first selection of the 2019 End-of-Year Waivers Draft on Monday afternoon. With the selection, FC Cincinnati now possess the midfielder’s MLS rights and can now initiate contract negotiations.
Since joining Philly in 2017, Medunjanin has made 98 appearances, including 97 starts, while scoring five goals and adding 29 assists. The former Bosnia and Herzegovina international has recorded the seventh-most assists among all MLS players dating back to the 2017 season.
A focal point of the Union midfield when in possession, Medunjanin led all MLS players in 2019 in total passes (2,571), total completed passes (2,182), passes in the opponent’s half (1,521) and completed passes in the opponent’s half (1,217) according to Opta. The midfielder was the lone outfield player in MLS to play every minute of every regular-season match in 2019 and has made at least 30 appearances in all three of his MLS campaigns.
In his professional career, Medunjanin has made more than 400 combined career appearances in the top divisions of the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Israel, while scoring more than 50 goals and adding more than 50 assists dating back to 2005. Prior arriving in Philadelphia, the midfielder played for AZ Alkmaar (2004-06, 2007-08), Sparta Rotterdam (2006-07), Real Valladolid (2008-10), Maccabi Tel Aviv (2010-12, 2015-17), Gaziantepspor (2012-14) and Deportivo de La Coruña (2014-15).
Internationally, Medunjanin represented Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2009 through 2018. The midfielder earned 60 caps, while scoring nine goals and adding two assists across all competitions. Medunjanin was chosen to be on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he made two appearances in group stage matches against Argentina and Nigeria.
The selection order for the MLS End-of-Year Waiver Draft was determined by the reverse order of the final standings in the 2019 MLS season, taking into account postseason performance. FC Cincinnati received the first pick, while MLS Cup Champions Seattle Sounders FC received the 24th pick. Expansion side Nashville SC had the 25th pick, while Inter Miami CF had the final selection in each round.
FC Cincinnati will return to the field in early 2020 for their second MLS season. Season Ticket Memberships for the 2020 season are now on sale to the general public at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-5425 (KICK). A 2020 Season Ticket Membership also secures fans’ place on the club’s priority list, which will be utilized when sales begin in the new West End Stadium for the 2021 season.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati select midfielder Haris Medunjanin in the 2019 MLS Waiver Draft on Nov. 25, 2019.
HARIS MEDUNJANIN
Pronunciation: Harris meh-DOON-yuh-nihn
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-3
Weight: 186
Birthdate: March 8, 1985
Birthplace: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hometown: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Last Club: Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Nationality: Bosnia and Herzegovina
MLS Roster Status: International
How Acquired: In the 2019 MLS Waiver Draft on Nov. 25, 2019.
