DC United signs Lewis O'Brien on loan from Nottingham Forest

DC United signs midfielder Lewis O’Brien on a short-term loan from Premier League team Nottingham Forest with Wayne Rooney claiming his side is ‘lucky’ to secure the move

• Other MLS teams were believed to be interested in securing a move for O’Brien
• The 24-year-old arrived in DC this week but will have to wait for his work visa
• Click here for all your latest international sports news from DailyMail.com

DC United has finalized a loan deal for midfielder Lewis O’Brien from Premier League club Nottingham Forest, head coach Wayne Rooney confirmed Thursday. 

Other MLS teams were believed to be interested in swooping in for O’Brien but Rooney’s DC United, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, emerged as frontrunners last week. 

The 24-year-old touched down in the capital this week for his physical but will have to wait to make his debut until his US work visa comes in, which could take a few weeks. 

‘I think he will be a huge help,’ Rooney said, via The Washington Post. ‘He’s a very energetic player, good on the ball. … We’re lucky that we’ve been able to bring him in because he’s a very good player.’ 

The former Huddersfield town player’s stint in Washington may not last long as the deal only runs until mid-July. 

DC United has finalized a loan deal for midfielder Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest

DC head coach Wayne Rooney claimed the 24-year-old will be a ‘great help’ to his side

DC will then have to decide whether to extend the loan, sign him on a permanent deal or send him back to England. 

‘Even though it’s a short loan, I think it’s a player who can really help us in that period of time he’s with us,’ Rooney said. ‘Beyond that, you never know. … We’ll see where we go.’ 

The midfielder is valued at $9.6 million, according to Transfermarkt, and Forest could look to sell after splashing the cash over the past two transfer windows on their return to the English top-flight. 

In fact, Forest’s transfer shenanigans almost left him stranded after an odd series of events left him ineligible for the Premier League. 

He saw a deadline-day move to English tier 2 side Blackburn Rovers fail to materialize in January when paperwork issues foiled the move at the last minute. 

However, as the club had anticipated the move, Forest had not registered him on its 25-man roster, leaving the club scrambling to find him a place to play the next several months.

He saw a deadline-day move to English tier 2 side Blackburn Rovers collapse in January 

O’Brien has made 17 appearances for Forest this season, netting one goal in the 3-2 defeat by Fulham back in September. 

Rooney is continuing his rebuild at the club after DC finished last in the Eastern Conference with just seven wins in 34 matches.

The team’s 2023 season got off to a fantastic, albeit dramatic start as Ted Ku-DiPietro scored an injury-time winner to seal a 3-2 win over Toronto in their opening game, after Christian Benteke had equalized in the 90th minute.

DC United suffered a 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew last weekend and welcome Orlando City to Audi Field on Saturday night.

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