D.C. United strikes deal for midfielder Boris Enow

Enow would become the third player acquired by United ahead of the summer window, joining Austrian left back David Schnegg and MLS veteran forward Dominique Badji. The first possible appearance is for a July 20 friendly against Scottish champion Celtic at Audi Field.

United officials declined to comment.

Enow, a defensive midfielder, has played three seasons for Maccabi Netanya, starting 83 matches and scoring three times in league play. Previously, he was with the second teams at Lens in France and Porto in Portugal. He made one appearance with Cameroon’s under-20 national team.

United’s interest, first reported by the Athletic, seemed to hit a dead end last week because of financial differences. “It not looking likely,” a team official said at the time. Enow would have had to become a designated player, the highest salary classification in MLS. (United already has the maximum three DPs.)

But further negotiations this week allowed United to acquire Enow and fit him onto the roster using targeted allocation money, the second level of league salaries.

Jackson Hopkins, a natural attacker, and Matti Peltola have started in defensive midfield this season. Hopkins has been sidelined for weeks with a back injury; Peltola has been used in midfield and on the back line.

Russell Canouse, the incumbent at that position for several years, has missed the entire season after undergoing colon surgery.

First-year coach Troy Lesesne is in desperate need of roster help. United (4-11-8) has had the maximum nine available substitutes only three times this year. In recent matches, United’s bench has included two goalkeepers, two players recalled from loans to second-division clubs and two others.

Aside from the loans, United’s already small roster has been further depleted by long-term injuries and numerous red- and yellow-card suspensions.

United is winless in 11 straight (0-8-3) heading into Saturday’s home match against Nashville SC (6-8-8). After a July 17 game at Minnesota and the friendly vs. Celtic, United will compete in the Leagues Cup, the annual MLS-Liga MX tournament.