DC United, veteran defender Bobby Boswell agree to contract extension

Boswell, United agree to contract extension

DC United defender Bobby Boswell

Veteran defender Bobby Boswell and D.C. United have agreed to a contract extension.


The Monday announcement marks a continued stay at the club where Boswell started his professional career in 2005. Boswell spent three seasons with United, then a six-season sojourn in Houston ended with his return to D.C. via the 2013 Re-Entry Draft. Per league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.


“We are thrilled to have secured Bobby’s continued commitment to D.C. United,” said general manager and vice president of soccer operations Dave Kasper, in a statement. “‎He has been one of the steadiest center backs in MLS throughout his career, and he has anchored the locker room and the defense since we brought him back to the nation’s capital last season.”



Boswell, now in his 11th MLS season, has started 32 of 33 matches this year and leads league field players in minutes played (2,885). In two seasons since returning to D.C., Boswell has started 66 of a possible 67 regular season matches, playing 5,930 of a possible 6,030 minutes.


The 32-year-old is fifth all-time among field players in MLS starts (320) and minutes played (28,609). He scored his second goal of 2015 in D.C. United’s 4-0 win over Chicago on October 18.


In 2014, Boswell was named team captain and the team’s Defender of the Year, selected to the MLS All-Star Game, named to the MLS Best XI and as a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year. He started a career-high 34 games – one of only three field players in MLS to start every regular season match – for a Black-and-Red defense that finished tied for first in goals against average (1.09) and allowed the fewest goals at home in MLS en route to the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs.



Boswell began his career as an undrafted free agent with D.C. United in 2005, quickly earning a first team role and starting 26 matches. In 2006, he was named MLS Defender of the Year, selected to the MLS Best XI and the MLS All-Star Team.


In six seasons with the Houston Dynamo from 2008-13, he was named Dynamo Defender of the Year three times and started in two MLS Cup finals.