NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC announced Friday the addition of four players from their USL side to their Major League Soccer roster. Matt LaGrassa, Alan Winn, Taylor Washington and Ken Tribbett were each integral parts of Nashville’s 2019 USL campaign, and the quarter will continue their careers in Nashville at the next level.
“We are really proud of Matt, Ken, Taylor and Alan for what they've been able to provide during the course of these past two USL Championship seasons, and excited for them to continue their development on this journey into Major League Soccer,” said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs.
Matt LaGrassa was one of the more consistent fixtures in Nashville’s team over their two season in USL, racking up 65 appearances for the club. A box-to-box midfielder, he brings a high work rate and vision to an already deep midfield. He’s able to win back possession and get the ball into space quickly, often hitting first time diagonal passes out wide for wingers/fullbacks to run onto. At 26 years old, he’s just hitting his prime, and has shown an impressive ability to stay available and play multiple matches in a short stretch. He’ll be a strong depth piece and a great locker room presence.
A former 25th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Alan Winn has plenty of pace to burn, and thrives when he can isolate defenders 1v1 and drive at them with the ball. The 23-year-old is capable of playing on either flank or underneath the striker, he brings depth to an attacking midfield core that includes Hany Mukhtar, Randall Leal, and David Accam. He showed a consistent floor at the USL level, but has potential to turn into an impact player at the next. In his two years in USL, Winn made 52 appearances, scoring seven and assisting four.
26-year-old Taylor Washington has been on the fringes of MLS his whole career, spending time with DC United’s U23s and drafted by Philadelphia Union. He made 59 league appearances for Nashville, and improved his delivery from the wings in his second season, assisting four goals and creating the third-highest amount of chances on the team. He’s positionally flexible, able to play left back or on either wing, and is a legitimate vertical threat with his speed.
Ken Tribbett had a strong case to be the best Nashville player not named Daniel Ríos before suffering an injury towards the end of the season and struggling to break into the first eleven. He’s a commanding center back. The phrase “aerial dominance” is often thrown about, almost to cliché levels, but it holds up in Tribbett’s case. The defender scored four goals in 25 appearances for Nashville, and showed surprising positional flexibility, sliding into a holding midfield role to good effect. The 27 year old has MLS experience, making 23 appearances for the Philadelphia Union from 2016-2017. With just two center backs currently signed ahead of him, Tribbett will bring valuable depth to the squad. Worst case, he’s reliable cover in defense. Best case, he could carve out a starting role for himself.
Transaction: Nashville SC signs midfielder Matt LaGrassa, defenders Ken Tribbett and Taylor Washington and forward Alan Winn.
Matt LaGrassa
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 174
Birthdate: Jan. 27, 1993
Age: 26
Hometown: Elk Grove, Calif.
Nationality: United States of America
Last club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)
How Acquired: Signed by Nashville SC on Nov. 22, 2019
Ken Tribbett
Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Birthdate: Aug. 25, 1992
Age: 27
Hometown: Centennial, Color.
Nationality: United States of America
Last club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)
How Acquired: Signed by Nashville SC on Nov. 22, 2019
Taylor Washington
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 174
Birthdate: Aug. 16, 1993
Age: 26
Hometown: Somers, New York
Nationality: United States of America
Last club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)
How Acquired: Signed by Nashville SC on Nov. 22, 2019
Alan Winn
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Birthdate: Feb. 18, 1996
Age: 23
Hometown: Garland, Texas
Nationality: United States of America
Last club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)
How Acquired: Signed by Nashville SC on Nov. 22, 2019
