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Michael Parkhurst left the Revs to sign with a club in Denmark.. (CHRIS ADUAMA/ aduama.com) |
“We’ve known for a while that Michael wanted to try to play in Europe,” Revolution Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Burns said in a statement released by the club. “That said, Michael has been a true professional during this process and was fully committed to helping the Revolution succeed on the field.”
Parkhurst is only 24 years old and because his original four-year MLS contract expired at the end of the season, he leaves the Revs on a free transfer.
"I just felt like with me being the age I am, and being out of contract, that if I ever wanted to try and make it in Europe, this was the time," Parkhurst told The Boston Globe. "Now that I'm still young and have the opportunity to do it, I felt like it was something I needed to do to further my career."
Parkhurst also holds an Irish passport, making a move to a European league easier since he won’t count against any foreign player limit.
The Revs are no stranger to losing players on transfers. Last Jan. 23, Pat Noonan signed with the Norwegian club Aalesund after the Revs let him go on a free transfer. Earlier that month, the Revs lost another offensive player to an overseas club when midfielder Andy Dorman signed with Scottish club St. Mirren.
However, that same offseason, New England did reject a $2.5 million bid for Taylor Twellman from Preston North End of England's second division.
This has already been an eventful offseason for the Revs. They lost Khano Smith in the Expansion Draft and before that traded forward Adam Cristman to Kansas City for a third-round draft pick and allocation money. And now comes Parkhurst.
Drafted by New England in the first round (ninth overall) out of Wake Forest, Parkhurst appeared in 115 games in his four-year Revolution career. He won the Rookie of the Year award his first season and was named the MLS Defender of the Year award last season.
He was also known for his work off the field, having been named the 2006 humanitarian of the year and the 2007 and 2008 MLS Fair Play award winner.
The lone goal in his MLS career was one of the highlights of the entire 2007 MLS season, a 60-yard strike from behind the midfield line in the final game of the season against Toronto FC.
“We want to thank Michael for all of his efforts, both on and off the field, and wish him the best of luck in Denmark,” said Burns.
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