Garrison Tubbs traded to D.C. United in deal with Atlanta United

Atlanta will receive $125,000 now and then another $150,000 should Tubbs meet performance thresholds, which were not disclosed by the teams. Atlanta also would receive a percentage of any transfer fee should D.C. sell Tubbs’s rights overseas.

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Homegrown candidates are typically exempt from the draft. Tubbs, a 6-foot-3 center back, made 68 appearances, including 66 starts, in four seasons at Wake Forest.

This past season, he was named ACC defensive player of the year, a first-team all-American and one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, awarded on Jan. 5 to college soccer’s best player.

During summer breaks from school, Tubbs appeared as an amateur in 12 matches for Atlanta United 2, a developmental squad competing in third-division MLS Next Pro.

Had he been available in the draft, Tubbs would have been a prime first-round candidate.

With the No. 7 overall pick, D.C. chose Georgetown’s Jacob Murrell, a sophomore forward who has yet to decide whether to turn pro or play at least one more year for the Hoyas. United will retain his MLS rights through 2025.

In the second round, D.C. selected Brandon Parrish, a senior midfielder from NCAA champion Clemson, and left back Aldair Sanchez, who played two years at North Carolina before signing with the second-division Sacramento Republic. In the third round, it claimed Wisconsin goalkeeper Nate Crockford.

The addition of Tubbs is part of D.C.’s continuing effort to beef up the defensive corps. Earlier this month, center back Lucas Bartlett arrived in a trade with St. Louis City and right back Aaron Herrera from CF Montreal.

D.C. entered the winter with one experienced center back — captain Steven Birnbaum — after cutting ties with Derrick Williams and Brendan Hines-Ike. Donovan Pines (77 league starts in five seasons) is a free agent exploring options in MLS and Europe.

Aside from Birnbaum, the other returning center backs are 17-year-old Matai Akinmboni (seven career appearances across all competitions) and 21-year-old Hayden Sargis (six).

Under new general manager Ally Mackay, D.C. is planning to make several additional moves before the season opener Feb. 24 against the New England Revolution at Audi Field. Training camp will begin in mid-January.