MetroStars President/General Manager Nick Sakiewicz announced today that the team has signed midfielder Jeff Moore of Gloucester Township, NJ, the team's sixth-round pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, and defender Birahim Diop as developmental players. Both Moore (number 6) and Diop (number 19) will be in uniform and available for tonight's game against the Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium.

MLS rules now allow the addition of four developmental roster players on each team, essentially expanding rosters from 18 to 22. Players signed to developmental contracts must be 23 years old or younger throughout the calendar year of the season in question, and remain eligible for MLS and USL competition during the length of their agreement.

Moore, who along with Diop joins Nike Project 40 players Brad Davis and Martin Klinger in making up the team's four developmental players, led Richard Stockton College of Pomona, NJ to the NCAA Division III title this year, assisting on the lone goal in Stockton's 1-0 championship win over Redlands (CA). The 5-foot-8 midfielder, who attended Triton HS in Runnemede, set Stockton's career record for assists with 48, including a single-season record 19 this year.

Diop, who was part of the MetroStars' roster for Copa Merconorte competition last season, is a native of Thies, Senegal who resides in Brooklyn, NY. The 23-year-old defender saw action in two Copa Merconorte games for the MetroStars, a 2-1 road loss at Deportivo Italchacao of Venezuela on October 24 and a 1-0 home loss to Millonarios of Colombia one week later.

"Both Jeff and Birahim are very promising young players whom we are very excited to add to our roster," said Sakiewicz. "They are both energetic, versatile and talented athletes who provide us with great depth."