As Coachella winds closer the Loons are not done with transactions, most recently signing Marcus Caldeira from West Virginia University. Caldeira recently finished his senior season with the Mountaineers, where they 13-5-3 overall and 7-2-0 in Sun Belt conference play. During the post season the Mountaineers fell in the SBC Semi-Finals and the NCAA Tournament second round. The 21 year old Canadian picked up a bevy of honours during his time in Morgantown including being a two time Academic All-American and sweeping the Sun Belt player of the year awards, being named preseason, postseason, and offensive player of the year.
Minnesota United took Caldeira 20th overall in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, following his breakout sophomore season with the Mountaineers. The Mississauga, ON native scored 42 goals and accrued 15 assists during his NCAA career and very well could be a big piece for the Loons as they rebuild heading into 2025.
“We’re excited to welcome Marcus to our club and look forward to seeing him continue his development while adding depth and competition to our team this season,” said Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad.
Over the past decade Minnesota has struggled with getting performances out of their forwards and have taken a bit hit following selling Tani Oluwaseyi. The addition of Caldeira to a roster that already contains Kelvin Yeboah and Mamadou Dieng not only increases the depth, but gives Minnesota more options in terms of play style.
“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to join this ambitious club and take the next step in fulfilling my lifelong dream of playing professionally,” said forward Marcus Caldeira. “I can’t wait to get started and contribute to the continued success of this club, its supporters, and the incredible atmosphere that Allianz Field brings. I’m thankful for the trust and support shown from the club’s staff since draft day, and I am ready to get to work on leaving a lasting impact on the club.”
Caldeira's contract runs for the 2026 season with club options to keep him on through the end of the 2028-29 season.
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