There will be no Juan Toja wig night this year for FC Dallas. The long-haired Colombian midfielder has been sold to Romanian club Steaua Bucharest. The transfer ends Toja’s run with FC Dallas after little more than a year and a half. Toja, 23, enjoyed a strong run of 12 matches in 2007 in which he scored six goals between May 12 and July 14. He was an All-Star in 2007 and again this year as a last-minute replacement. His output this season declined to two goals and two assists in 15 starts.
Toja became enamored with the Romanian club’s potential to play in the UEFA Champions League. "I’ve very happy for this offer," Toja said before the July 24th All-Star Game. "It’s good for me. It’s a good team, a big team in Europe. They play UEFA Champions League. They are a really, really big team. I’m going to make good money and it’s a great opportunity for me."
FC Dallas will receive two-thirds of the undisclosed transfer fee. Toja’s sale caps a busy week for FC Dallas. The club announced it would not sell star forward Kenny Cooper, acquired midfielders Bruno Guarda and Jamie Watson, and traded midfielder Arturo Alvarez. Watson, who played at Coppell High School and spent the past three seasons with Real Salt Lake, will be on the developmental roster.
FC Dallas is in negotiations with Dutch international Victor Sikora and could sign the attacker Monday. Two players from Argentina’s River Plate, forward Lucas Gomez, 21, and defender Lucas Malacarne, 19, are set for trials starting Tuesday.