2026 is winding down, not only on the calendar but also the MLS season. With the transfer window closed, that meant it was time for updated roster profiles to be released by the league. This will be followed up later this fall by the MLSPA releasing salary numbers, giving us a complete look at every club in MLS. But for now we can take a look at the roster profile of the Loons and any changes that have happened over the past six months.
Roster Additions
Senior Roster
Minnesota United didn't make a ton of moves during the transfer window, as detailed in our transfer window roundup. But the club did have a few players move onto the senior roster. First was Anthony Markanich moving from the supplemental roster to the senior roster following his new contract. That contract keeps the defender in Minnesota through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
New players that joined the senior roster were Maurice Malone, who is a TAM player, coming in from Sturm Graz along with Cherrion Valerius. Valerius comes in on loan for the remainder of the season and has a purchase option attached to the loan. Should MNUFC purchase the midfielder from NAC Breda, he would be under contract through 2028-29 season with options for the following two seasons. Malone's contract on the other hand runs through 2029-30 with a club option for the following season.
Supplemental Roster
Just one player, AZ Jackson, was added to the Loons supplemental roster during the window. His loan, like the one for Valerius, comes with a purchase option that Minnesota United can trigger following the end of the season. Jackson has performed admirably since re-joining the Loons. If Jackson joins the club long term he would be contracted for the 2027 sprint season, the 2027-28 season, and the club would have an option for the 2028-29 season. All provided that Jackson does not sign an extension should he join the club full time.
Departures
Senior Roster
Minnesota lost only a single player permanently and that happened before the transfer window opened. James Rodríguez spent the spring half of the 2026 season with the Loons as he prepared to get ready to play for Colombia in the World Cup. Rodríguez left the Loons following the expiration of his half season deal and has since joined Colombian top flight side Atlético Nacional on a free transfer. James also recently retired from international play, which could signal him winding down his club career as well.
Other Notes
Minnesota United also stayed with the U22 Initiative Roster type, this decision may have been made prior to the departure of Khaled El-Ahmad to Austin FC. If the Hank Stebbins and the Loons want to transition off the U22 Initiative roster style, they will either have to sell a U22 listed player, unless they could manage to move one to a designated player spot. U22 Initiative gives the club 4 U22 players along with an additional $2 million in allocation money in exchange for having just 2 designated players instead of three.
Minnesota also has the 2nd highest GAM available in league behind only Philadelphia Union, so Minnesota will have plenty to spend over the offseason as they prepare for the schedule shift. Recently the Loons also sold an international slot, leaving them with 8 slots and 11 international players. Three of those players are currently out on loan, but should any acquire a green card they would then move to domestic status and free up an international slot.
However the biggest note is the amount of expiring contracts MNUFC has as the season winds down. Eleven players have their contracts expire following the 2026 season and five of those are without a club option for 2026. Should Michael Boxall and Wil Trapp leave at the end of their contracts, those would be huge losses for the Loons and require a serious re-tooling of the roster over the winter.
Drake Callender, DJ Taylor, and Alec Smir also will be out of contract and do not have club options. Losses of Callender and Smir would mean a complete shakeup in the goalkeeping corps for Minnesota. But with Kayne Rizvanovich and Wessel Speel waiting in the wings, the club still does have capable goalkeepers to step into that role.
