D.C. United close to acquiring center back Christopher McVey from Miami

On Monday, McVey entered in the 77th minute of Miami’s 4-3 preseason defeat to Saudi club Al-Hilal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If the trade is completed, McVey presumably would remain in Saudi Arabia, where D.C. is also based at the moment.

McVey began his career in his native Sweden with Elfsborg and Dalkurd. He is also a U.S. citizen, so he would not count against United’s international roster limit.

United has been seeking experienced center backs to join 33-year-old captain Steven Birnbaum. This winter, the club parted ways with Derrick Williams and Brendan Hines-Ike and lost Donovan Pines to free agency. (Pines signed with Barnsley in England’s third division.)

The corps of defensive backs includes Matai Akinmboni, 17; Hayden Sargis, 21; rookie Garrison Tubbs, 21; and Lucas Bartlett, a 26-year-old third-year pro acquired this offseason from St. Louis.

D.C. United makes first international move, acquiring Finland’s Matti Peltola

McVey would become the fifth player with pro experience to join United in the past two months. Midfielder Jared Stroud was also part of the St. Louis trade; right back Aaron Herrera arrived from Montreal; and this week the club agreed to a deal with Finnish midfielder Matti Peltola.

The trade talks come as United is entering its second week of training camp in Saudi Arabia. It opened the preseason Tuesday with a 6-0 victory over the Sudanese national team in Jeddah. Cristian Dájome scored twice. Herrera, rookie Jacob Murrell (Georgetown), Kristian Fletcher and Brandon Parrish, an unsigned draft pick from Clemson, added a goal apiece.

The second of four tuneups comes Saturday against Saudi club Al Wehda. United will also face Sudanese club Al Hilal on Tuesday and Saudi club Al Ettifaq on Feb. 9 before a planned friendly at FC Dallas on Feb. 17.

United’s MLS opener is Feb. 24 against New England at Audi Field.

Note: United will face Atlanta and Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the group stage of the Leagues Cup, organizers announced. The tournament, which debuted last summer with 47 teams from MLS and Liga MX, runs July 26 to Aug. 25. Venues and dates were not announced.