Major League Soccer Signs Tab Ramos

Tab Ramos, who has spent the last five seasons playing in Spain, is the first player signed by Major League Soccer, which is due to begin operation in the spring of 1996.

Ramos, a midfielder, appeared in every U.S. game in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup tournaments.

Ramos, 28, was a high school teammate of fellow World Cup players John Harkes and Tony Meola at Kearny, N.J., and competed in the Youth World Cup at Mexico in 1983 and in the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul.

He joined Figueras in the Spanish second division after the 1990 World Cup and later was transferred to Real Betis of Seville, which he helped to gain promotion to the first division.

According to MLS, Ramos, who suffered a career-threatening head injury when he was elbowed by Brazil’s Leonardo during last summer’s World Cup, will be lent to the Tigres of the Mexican first division until the MLS begins play in April 1996.