As Big Apple Soccer and other outlets informed the world today, Hans Backe has confirmed that the New York Red Bulls have signed Finnish international midfielder Teemu Tainio.

Tainio has been in training with the team, even playing in friendlies with the team, but his signing was not finalized until very recently. Tainio has played the majority of his career in the center of midfield, but he has shown briefly in his spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City that he is capable of playing at right back as well. Tainio had the best years of his career at Auxerre and Tottenham, and he’s bounced around quite a bit in recent years. Tainio most recently played for Ajax, where he struggled to get playing time.

Unless Tainio’s going to be playing right back primarily, competition for spots in the center of midfield should be fierce in New York. Rafael Marquez looks set to move back to central defense, but Tainio joins young newcomer Matt Cassell and Jan Gunnar Stoli, who can play wide or in the middle. These players will all be fighting for spots with youngster Tony Tchani, who will probably see an expanded role from last season, becoming a first choice player in the center for every game that he is fit.

New York’s roster is looking absolutely loaded at present. They haven’t directly replaced Juan Pablo Angel, but with their strengths elsewhere and the emergence of some young stars, they don’t have to.