Houston, TX – Brian Ching's stay in Montreal is over before he even played a match for the expansion Impact.
Just three months after losing him in the expansion draft, the Houston Dynamo reacquired the forward Thursday for a conditional selection in the 2013 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
The 33-year-old Ching has played for the Dynamo since 2006, helping the squad advance to three MLS Cup finals and win two titles. He is the all-time leading scorer in Houston history with 63 goals.
"I am very happy to have Brian back with the team," said Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear. "This is a very important year for the Dynamo, and if anyone deserves to be involved with the team, it's Brian."
Ching led or tied for the team lead in goals in five consecutive seasons from 2007-11, with a career-high 13 in 2008. He was limited to 20 appearances last season, but still had five goals and helped the club reach the Cup final.
Houston lost the MLS Cup to the Los Angeles Galaxy, 1-0. The Dynamo won back- to-back-titles in 2006 and 2007.
The Dynamo were surprised to lose the longtime player in the expansion draft, and following a lot of rumors about his return to Houston, a deal was finally reached with the start of the season less than a month away.
Montreal will joins MLS this season as the league's 19th team.
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