Daniel Woolard or James Riley has started most United games at left back.
Rochat was born in Canada but grew up in Switzerland and, between 1999 and 2011, spent all but season in the Swiss league. He has dual citizenship and made one appearance for the Swiss national team.
He is awaiting a U.S. work visa and will not become eligible to play for United until early next week, at the earliest, United officials said. United, winless in a club-record 11 straight matches and an MLS-worst 1-10-2, will visit the New England Revolution on Saturday and host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 game at Maryland SoccerPlex.
According to MLS players’ union documents, Rochat is earning $190,000 this season.
United recently recently waived Panamanian midfielder Marcos Sanchez and signed Gambian wing Sainey Nyassi. The club is continuing to pursue players from overseas and evaluating two trialists from French club Sedan this week: forward Mamadou Diallo and defender Habib Bellaid.