The Red Bulls shipped Dane Richards and allocation money to Vancouver Friday for striker Sébastien Le Toux, an MLS Best XI pick in 2010.
“Sebastien is one of the premier attacking players in the league and someone who we have admired for a long time,’’ said Red Bulls general manager Erik Soler who, earlier in the day, acquired former St. John’s star Bill Gaudette to add depth at goalkeeper. “[Le Toux] will be able to play a number of different positions and will be an important piece for us as we challenge for the MLS Cup this year.
“We also want to wish Dane the best of luck in Vancouver. He has been a great player for our club, and it was a difficult decision to trade someone of his quality.”
Le Toux will practice with the Red Bulls Saturday and be available for Sunday’s game in Seattle (4 p.m., ESPN). He arrives in a swap of standout players suffering through subpar years.
The 28-year-old has four goals and one assist in 19 appearances this year, after arriving in January from Philadelphia. He had 25 goals and 20 assists in 62 regular season starts for the Union. Richards, a second-round pick in 2007, was second in team history in appearances, starts and minutes.
Richards’ speed opened up the game for the Red Bulls, but he was having an off season and will miss time with the Jamaican team for World Cup qualifying. Le Toux is versatile, able to play striker, behind the forwards or the wing in a 4-3-3.
Gaudette was acquired from Los Angeles for a supplemental draft pick. With starting keeper Ryan Meara bothered by a hip injury suffered last weekend, the 30-year-old Gaudette provides more experience than backup Jeremy Vuolo, who hasn’t played a second all season.
brian.lewis@nypost.com