Holding the first pick in the 2019 end-of-year waivers draft, FC Cincinnati selected former Philadelphia Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin on Monday. Since joining MLS in 2017 with the Union, he has made 98 appearances, including 97 starts, while scoring five goals and adding 29 assists. With this selection, the Orange and Blue now possess the midfielder’s rights in MLS and can now initiate new contract negotiations.
The 34 year-old midfielder led all players in MLS in total passes (2,571), total passes completed (2,182), passes in the opponent’s half (1,521) and completed passes in the opponent’s half (1,217). Overall, Medunjanin completed 84.9 percent of his overall passes and 80.0 percent of his passes in the opponent’s half. Additionally, Medunjanin was the only non-goalkeeper to play every minute of every MLS regular-season match in 2019 and has made at least 30 appearances in all three of his seasons with the Philadelphia Union.
In his professional club career, Medunjanin has made more than 400 career appearances in the top divisions of the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Israel. Since 2005, he has scored more than 50 goals and added more than 50 assists. The midfielder has played for AZ Alkmaar of the Eredivisie from 2004-06 and 2007-08, Sparta Rotterdam of the Eredivisie from 2006-07, Real Valladolid of La Liga from 2008-10, Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League from 2010-12 and 2015-17, Gaziantepspor from 2012-14 and Deportivo de La Coruna of La Liga 2 from 2014-15.
Representing Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally from 2009-18, Medunjanin earned 60 caps while scoring nine goals and assisting on two across all competitions. Medunjanin participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making two appearances in the group stage against Argentina and Nigeria.
Stay tuned to Cincinnati Soccer Talk as we break down what this means for FC Cincinnati, as well as any other news that may break about new trades or player signings throughout the MLS off-season.
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