Alexander Büttner first signing of Revolution offseason

The Revolution made its first acquisition of the offseason — and the worst-kept secret official — Thursday morning, as they announced the signing of 30-year-old Dutch defender Alexander Büttner.

As per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced, but the club announced in its news release that it used Targeted Allocation Money in order to secure Büttner. He is not the long-awaited third designated player, and he will slide into one of the Revolution’s international slots for the 2020 season.

The Büttner-to-Foxborough rumors had rumbled for several weeks, and had picked up steam two weeks ago before New England’s exit from the MLS Cup Playoffs. Büttner has plenty of top-flight experience in Europe, where he has made 275 appearances in all competitions in 12 seasons as a pro, and should easily fit into the Revolution back line.

Unquestionably, Büttner has a championship pedigree, having been part of winning two titles in his career, as well as playing on the biggest stages in European football, including over 2,000 minutes in the UEFA Champions League as well as the Europa League.

After starting his career with SBV Vitesse, he moved on to English giants Manchester United, where he had a part-time role in helping the Red Devils win the Premier League in 2012. He also played for Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League, and had a loan spell with Belgian side RSC Anderlecht before returning to Vitesse in 2017.

“Alexander brings experience at the game's most competitive levels, and his skill and pedigree will make him an important asset for the club on and off the field,” Bruce Arena said in a team-prepared statement.

He will be added to the roster when his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate is acquired.

BSJ Analysis

It seems like Arena is not playing checkers, folks, and it’s only Nov. 1. Getting Büttner — a left back, which is sorely needed — under contract now should assuage Revolution supporters and media alike, especially media members like myself who have beat the drum for more defensive help over the years.

Let’s face it, folks: after Chris Tierney’s career-ending injury in May 2018, the Revolution had used a Band-Aid at left back (Gabriel Somi, Claude Dielna, Brandon Bye) when they should have used Superglue and looked for another defender alongside the signing of Michael Mancienne. And while we were on the Edgar Castillo Hype Train when he came to the club in exchange for Kelyn Rowe last December, we can be honest when we say he flamed out. Ball-watching too much. Saw his side of the pitch attacked with impunity. It really wasn’t a good look.

Does that mean the Revolution won’t keep Castillo? We won’t know that until the roster decisions are made, which we are expecting any day now. I would think he would be a solid depth piece, or a trading chip, depending upon his contract status.

Bringing in a pro like Büttner should give other teams in MLS pause when game-planning against the Revolution in 2020. He’s a strong player who surges into space, closing down on an attacker. Having played at some of the top leagues in Europe — and having played Europa League and Champions League is certainly a benefit — he brings a certain professionalism that you don’t readily see in United States soccer. He can get forward, which is a part of many attacking schemes, and can whip in a mighty cross, changing the point of the attack.

We didn’t see too many crosses from the left side in 2019, and that should change in 2020.

Some may scoff given he only played upward of 30 or so matches with Manchester United over two seasons, which makes him a part-time player in the eyes of many. But he should be able to own in MLS, which is still developing and is definitely still lower in quality than Europe. We’ve seen players who have struggled in larger leagues — Carles Gil with La Liga, for instance; no goals in 18 matches during the first half of Deportivo de La Coruña's 2018-19 season, and look what he did in 2019 for The Boys In Blue — come to New England and wreck the opposition. We’re expecting that out of Büttner.

I don’t know about you guys, but March 2020 can’t get here soon enough.