Wait. What? Red Bulls Trade For Le Toux

by Matt Coyne on Jul 13, 2025 8:44 PM EDT in Club News

So Dane Richards is headed westward to the Vancouver Whitecaps along with some transfer money in exchange for former Philadelphia Union striker and current Whitecap Sebastien Le Toux.

Le Toux, apparently, will be available this weekend against the Seattle Sounders, another one of his former teams.

Le Toux scored 26 goals in 65 games in two years with the Union and 4 goals in 18 games with the Whitecaps this year.

It's a bittersweet end for Richards, who leaves the Red Bulls less than a week after becoming the second longest tenured Red Bull games-wise, behind only Mike Petke in appearances for the team.

You have to wonder, too, what this means for Luke Rodgers, whose visa is still trapped somewhere in red tape hell. The Red Bulls did say they would start looking for a replacement if they couldn't get Rodgers, and this looks to be it. Unless they think Le Toux can play the midfield, too.

I'm still kind of reeling from this one. I like Le Toux quite a bit, but Richards was one of the few pace merchants this team had. Plus, he's been a Red Bull for a long, long time.

Thoughts?

Tweet Comment 5 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: Dane Richards (MIDFIELDER - Vancouver Whitecaps), Sebastien Le Toux (F - Vancouver Whitecaps), Luke Rodgers (F - New York Red Bulls), New York Red Bulls, Vancouver Whitecaps

Comments

Dane was a good soldier for us for a long, long time, but hes been largely ineffective this season. 1 goal and 2 assists, and he struggles when he needs to play a more impactful, central attacking role, which Le Toux is very good at. I like the move, and its the move we should have made instead of DeRo. Better late than never

by Dfrezzz on Jul 13, 2025 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Other than their numbers

how is anyone supposed to tell the difference between Cooper and Le Toux?

by James Bray on Jul 13, 2025 11:16 PM EDT via Android app reply actions

I said that to my friend when I heard about the trade.

I think its hilarious so many different people are having that very same reaction.

Editor at Once a Metro. Yankees/Giants/Rangers/Red Bulls/Fulham

by Matt Coyne on Jul 14, 2025 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

First initial impression

is that I like this. I always felt like I never appreciated Richards as much as I should have, and maybe now he’s gone I’ll regret it. A breakout with him pinning his ears back and running past defenders was a truly thrilling “oh shit” moment unlike anybody since maybe Clint Mathis. But so. Many. Times. that run would end with a shot when a pass was needed or a cross weighted completely the opposite of what was needed. For a guy with so much experience in MLS and international play he just never seemed to display situational awareness. A striker would make a near post run and Dane would crack it to the far side of the box. Or a trailing striker would be at the penalty spot begging for a layoff and Dane would crack a shot from a terrible angle into the near side netting. Like I said, maybe Red Bull will miss his pace and I will miss watching him, but for now, Le Toux excites me more.

Two Super Bowls in five years. Apparently I root for the luckiest team in the history of professional sports. I'll take it.

by bigbluethruandthru on Jul 13, 2025 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

Well, the trade certainly surprised me at first. A day later, I like it. Dane Richards tends to run hot and cold and if the play isn’t on his side, he’s, well, not doing much. I think Le Toux may be able to spark the forwards into scoring some goals and what better way to do it against one of his former teams?

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jul 14, 2025 4:12 PM EDT reply actions