Ulises Segura made his international debut for Costa Rica earlier this year. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

New York City FC Thursday traded the discovery player rights of Ulises Segura to D.C. United so the Major League Soccer club could acquire the Costa Rican international midfielder from Deportivo Saprissa.

United traded $50,000 in General Allocation Money to NYCFC in exchange for the right to sign Segura.

The deal is pending the receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate.

Segura, 24, scored 12 goals and recorded two assists in 118 appearances and contributed to the team winning the Primera División de Costa Rica four times. He represented the Ticos six times.

“Ulises is an exciting Costa Rican national team player with the tools to add a powerful dynamic to our midfield,” United general manager Dave Kasper said in a statement. “He’s a box-to-box midfielder who can also play out wide and his performances with the Ticos and Saprissa, one of the best clubs in CONCACAF, have shown that he is on track towards becoming an elite professional. We are excited for his future with the club.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.