In the end for Ian Harkes, signing with D.C. United was an easy choice.
The 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy winner for his play as a senior at Wake Forest possesses a British passport, acquired by being born in England while his father, John Harkes, played several years before being part of the inaugural United team in 1996. That passport could have made pursuing European opportunities easier for the younger Harkes. But after some consideration, Harkes decided to become United’s 9th homegrown player, joining the club his dad helped make famous in the early days of MLS.