Atlanta Silverbacks and Minnesota Thunder News Releases

Thursday, November 8, 2007

TAMPA, FL -- The Minnesota Thunder and Atlanta Silverbacks announced the trade of Dayton O’Brien from the Silverbacks to the Thunder for midfielder Ansu Toure.

The player-for-player trade was the first for the Thunder in recent years and has added a dynamic player to the Thunder through at least 2008. The trade will see Toure under contract with the Silverbacks through the 2008 season.

O’Brien, 5-11, 155, is a midfielder who began his professional careet in 2006 when he was selected by the Columbus Crew in the 3rd round, 33rd overall, of the 2006 MLS Super Draft. O’Brien spent the 2006 season with the Silverbacks where he logged time in 19 games, scoring one goal.

O’Brien spent his collegiate career at the University of Memphis where he became the first Memphis soccer player to be named an All-American and was selected to the NSCAA All-American Second Team. O’Brien, a Tennessee native, was also named the 2004 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and was an All C-USA First Team selection for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005). He helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever C-USA regular season title and C-USA tournament championship in 2004. During the same year his 14 assists set a season record at Memphis.

“Dayton is a player I’ve been following since his senior year at Memphis,” said Thunder head coach Amos Magee. “He came on in our game this past season against Atlanta and really caused some difficulty for our squad. He’s a dymamic young player that we hope will really grow here in Minnesota.”

Toure played in 24 games for the Thunder in 2007. He logged 1,299 minutes as well as recorded two goals and one assist.

"Dayton O'Brien did really well for us in 2007, but we could not pass up the opportunity to add Ansu Toure to our roster. He is a very dynamic player who is able to play throughout the midfield and upfront. I'm excited to see what he can do in a Silverbacks uniform," commented Head Coach Jason Smith.

Toure, 5-11, 162, made his first appearance in the USL First Division in 2006 with the Minnesota Thunder. Just two minutes into his debut, he scored his first USL-1 goal... against the Atlanta Silverbacks on July 30. The Silverbacks went on to win 3-2; Toure went on to finish the season with four goals in ten games played. Before joining the Thunder midway through the 2006 season, he spent two months in camp with MLS side, the New York Red Bull. Toure also spent time with the St. Paul Twin Stars in the National Premier Soccer League where he scored 27 goals in 14 games. The 26-year-old midfielder is a native of Monrovia, Liberia.