D.C. United Takes a High-Risk Gamble on Rida Zouhir | OneFootball

D.C. United just dropped a big announcement: they’ve signed 21-year-old midfielder Rida Zouhir, who’s had some time with CF Montréal and spent a bit of time in the USL Championship. His contract runs through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. Now, the question is: is this a stroke of genius, or just another one of those signings that come in through the front door and sneak out the back without anyone really noticing?

Zouhir’s arrival is part of D.C. United’s ongoing rebuild, as the team tries to escape mediocrity and get back to the MLS Cup playoffs, a feat they haven’t managed since 2019. He’s a young player who’s got some MLS experience under his belt, and he’s also represented both Morocco and Canada at the youth national level. But, here’s the big question: does that mean he’s got the game to stand out on this roster? Or is this just another routine move from a club that always seems to be chasing its tail?

What really stands out about this signing is that Zouhir wasn’t exactly a hot commodity on the market. CF Montréal let him go without a second thought, and even though he played 27 games for them between 2021 and 2024, he never really became a permanent starter. If he was that essential, would the Canadians have let his contract run out without even putting up a fight for a renewal?

On the flip side, D.C. United seems to be betting big on youth as the way out of this rut. Along with Zouhir, they’ve also brought in Hosei Kijima, Randall Leal, and Brandon Servania to strengthen the midfield. But here’s the catch: none of them are coming in with star power. They’re all players with potential, but they’ve still got a lot to prove. The team’s kind of rolling the dice, hoping at least one of them turns into a breakout player.

Zouhir isn’t bad, though. He’s got a solid playing style, good movement, and isn’t shy about pressing the opposition. He’s not the type of guy who disappears when the game gets tough. But let’s be real, he’s not the kind of midfielder who’s going to win you a game with a magical pass or a perfect long-range shot. He’s a worker, not an artist.

His time in the USL Championship with San Antonio FC and Birmingham Legion showed he can perform when he gets regular minutes. But MLS? That’s a whole different ball game. Just because you shine in the USL doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed success in the big leagues. We’ve seen plenty of players light it up in the second division and then struggle to make an impact when they step up.

If there’s one thing that might work in Zouhir’s favor, it’s his familiarity with the MLS environment. He’s not going to need to go through the typical learning curve that many foreign players face when they arrive in North American soccer. But if his experience was really that impressive, wouldn’t he have made a bigger impact by now?

The truth is, D.C. United is still a bit of a question mark. This was once one of the most dominant teams in the MLS, but now they always seem to be hanging out on the second page of the standings, desperately trying to figure out how to get back to relevance.

Head coach Troy Lesesne is heading into his second year in charge, and let’s just say the fans aren’t known for their patience. The team kicks off their season today, February 22nd, against Toronto FC, and they really can’t afford to start the year with a dud. If they keep dragging their feet, the pressure will be on fast.

So, the big question: are these new signings, including Rida Zouhir, actually going to make a difference? Or will it be just another one of those years where D.C. United floats around mid-table, lacking real ambition, while teams like Inter Miami, LAFC, and Cincinnati fight for the top?

The answer’s going to depend on how these new players fit into the squad. Soccer’s not an exact science, and sometimes, players who come in under the radar end up being key pieces. But, at this point, there’s nothing about Zouhir that screams "game-changer" for D.C. United’s future.