SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has acquired forward Alan Gordon, defender Nana Attakora and midfielder Jacob Peterson from Toronto FC in exchange for Ryan Johnson, allocation money and an international player slot.
Attakora is a two-time Canadian Under-20 National Team Player of the Year recipient and has made 56 appearances in five seasons with Toronto FC. The 22-year-old center back had two goals and four assists for the Reds in 2009, a season in which TFC posted a franchise-record 10 wins. Attakora was a regular starter in 2009 and 2010 and has started four of the six games he has played in so far this season. Attakora played for current Quakes assistant Mark Watson with the Canadian National Team program. He made his Senior National Team debut on Jan. 31, 2010 against Jamaica after splitting 27 appearances between the Canadian U-17s and U-20s.
Peterson has nine goals and eight assists during his six-year MLS career. The 25-year-old made an immediate impact as a rookie for the Colorado Rapids in 2006 with four goals and three assists in 28 appearances, including 17 starts. He started 13 games for the Reds in 2011. He has been a regular contributor at each step of his professional career, averaging better than 23 appearances per season. In 2004, Peterson scored a goal in the NCAA Championship match, a game that his Indiana Hoosiers would go on to win in penalty kicks.
Gordon is an eight-year MLS veteran with 21 goals in 116 appearances to his credit. The former LA Galaxy and Chivas USA striker has four goals in eight games so far in 2011. In 2008, the Long Beach, Calif. native scored five goals and had eight assists in 26 appearances. He played under current Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop in 2006 and 2007.
Johnson spent time at forward and left midfield during his Earthquakes career, which started in 2008. He played 99 games and notched 17 goals with 13 assists for San Jose.
San Jose will regain its international slot on Jan. 1, 2013.
Transaction: Earthquakes acquire D Nana Attakora, F Alan Gordon and M Jacob Peterson from Toronto FC for M Ryan Johnson, allocation money and an international player slot to be returned to San Jose on Jan. 1, 2013.
Nana Attakora
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Born: March 27, 1989
Hometown: North York, Canada
College: None
Alan Gordon
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Born: October 16, 1981
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
College: Oregon State University
Jacob Peterson
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Born: January 27, 1986
Hometown: Portage, Mich.
College: Indiana University
