In need of scoring help, D.C. United acquires Deshorn Brown from Tampa Bay Rowdies

Deshorn Brown poses with Lionel Messi after a 2015 Copa America match between Jamaica and Argentina. (Luis Acosta/AFP-Getty Images)

Goal-starved D.C. United acquired Jamaican forward Deshorn Brown from the the second-division Tampa Bay Rowdies on Tuesday.

Brown, 26, scored 10 goals for the Colorado Rapids in both 2013 and 2014 before playing one year for Norwegian club Valerenga and one for Chinese side Shenzhen. He joined the Rowdies this year, posting three goals in 14 appearances (eight starts).

He arrived in Washington on Monday, trained with the team Tuesday and is eligible to play Wednesday against Atlanta United at RFK Stadium, Coach Ben Olsen said. The MLS transfer window doesn’t open until July 10, but because Brown was playing domestically and registered with the U.S. Soccer Federation, he can play right away.

United paid an undisclosed transfer fee.

Because he left MLS on a transfer two years ago, Brown was subjected to the league’s allocation list. United acquired the top pick from Houston for the No. 9 slot, $100,000 in general allocation money, $75,000 in targeted allocation money and a 2018 international roster spot. By exercising the No. 1 position, United moved to the bottom of the list.

D.C. (4-8-3) has been actively seeking help in the attack after scoring an MLS-worst 10 goals in the first 15 matches and suffering 10 scoreless performances.

Reserve forward Alhaji Kamara is in the process of being sold overseas and part-time starter Jose Guillermo Ortiz (one goal) has fallen short of expectations. First-choice striker Patrick Mullins is recovering from knee surgery. Other frontline choices have not solved United’s problems.

Brown, known for blinding speed, was Colorado’s first-round draft pick in 2013 (sixth overall) and proceeded to lead the team in scoring, one goal short of what was then the MLS rookie record for goals (11). He was second in rookie of the year voting. Brown repeated his regular season scoring feats in 2014 and posted a hat trick in a U.S. Open Cup match.

In March 2015, the Rapids sold him to Valerenga for more than $500,000. He later moved to China for $1 million. In two years overseas, he recorded 24 goals in 54 matches across all competitions.

With the Rowdies, Brown has been used as a substitute the past four USL matches.

“I know what he’s about,” Olsen said. “I’m not too concerned about his situation in Tampa. It was obviously a stopover until his next step. I’m sure he’ll see minutes very soon.”