Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed defender Chris Leitch. He is available for selection for the Red Bulls' match tonight against the Houston Dynamo, starting at 8 PM ET at Robertson Stadium. Leitch has been with the Red Bulls as a trialist since May after being waived by the Columbus Crew on March 1, 2007. The former University of North Carolina standout started in 18 games while appearing in 24 matches last season for the Crew.

A former member of the MetroStars from 2003 to 2005, Leitch played in a total of 72 games with 65 starts. Leitch won the team's Defender of the Year in 2005 and the Iron Man award in 2004 when he amassed 2,610 minutes played. He was traded to the MetroStars from Columbus after his rookie season in exchange for Ross Paule. The defenseman featured in 13 games while starting 11 after Columbus drafted him in the fourth round (47th overall) in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.

The Baltimore, Ohio native set the University of North Carolina school record for career games played (88) and starts (87) during his four-year college career. As a third-year captain, Leitch helped anchor a North Carolina defense that posted 14 shutouts en route to the 2001 NCAA National Championship, the first for the Tar Heels. He was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2001 as well. Leitch attended Pickerington High School where he won the 1997 Ohio Player of the Year.