Soumare to Have "Minor Knee Procedure Today"

What seemed like a promising move when first announced has failed to materialize ever since. After playing in only a single game, a start against the Chicago Fire in a 3-1 loss, Bakary Soumare will once again stay away from the field due to complications with his knees.

Today, on Twitter, Soumare announced that he was to undergo a procedure on his knee that has had "recent issues." Soumare was listed as 'questionable' with knee inflammation on Major League Soccer's (MLS) Tuesday injury report.

The 26-year-old central defender was acquired only months after major knee surgery during his time on loan with 3. Bundesliga (third league in Germany) Karlsruher SC, from then-Ligue 2 (second league in France) side US Boulogne. Before the injury and surgery, Soumare appeared seven times for Karsruher and 65 times for Boulogne, which he had joined in 2009 from the Fire for around $1.5 million in transfer fees.

Soumare was expected to come to the Union and slot in at center back once healthy, enabling the mightily in-form Amobi Okugo to return to his natural role in the midfield. However, Soumare's sole appearance has left fans and media wondering if the Mali international's acquisition was too costly for the Union, given that he may not play again for Philadelphia until next year.

Philadelphia's trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps netted Soumare, in an allocation order deal, but sent allocation money and the team's 2013 SuperDraft first round selection in exchange for the defender. Sitting sixth-to-last overall in MLS, the Union may have traded away a top 10 selection, if not top five, for one appearance.