Minnesota United has declined Wil Trapp’s contract option for 2025, but the club is working to bring back the defensive midfielder on a new deal for next season.
The decision on Trapp was part of MNUFC’s end-of-season roster decisions shared Wednesday.
During the summer transfer window, the Loons were pursuing a new defensive midfielder, but transfer fees and contracts with a few internationals didn’t come to fruition before the window closed in August. MNUFC is expected to reboot efforts to sign a D-mid again this winter; that spot is in addition to a few other positions of need, including right back.
Trapp, 31, told the Pioneer Press last week that he wants to return to Minnesota for next season. On a video call with reporters on Tuesday, he shared his stance on the possibility that new direct competition might be on the roster come next preseason.
“It’s the nature of sports, baby,” Trapp said. “That is what it is. I think the less you feel threatened by these things and the more that you just embrace what sports is — it doesn’t affect me at all. Go win the spot. Go win games. Be somebody who helps the team win.”
Trapp, who wore the captain’s armband for the Loons in 2022, played the fifth-most minutes (2,296) across 27 games last season. Head coach Eric Ramsay was a big fan of how Trapp can fulfill a gameplan on the field.
Trapp’s guaranteed compensation was $445,000 in 2024, and the club will likely try to bring his salary figure down for next season.
Picked up
The Loons picked up the 2025 contract options on: forward Tani Oluwaseyi; goalkeepers Dayne St. Clair and Alec Smir; midfielders Hassani Dotson, Bongi Hlongwane and Samuel Shashoua; defenders Devin Padelford, Anthony Markanich and Morris Duggan.
The club is expected to pursue new contracts with at least St. Clair, Oluwaseyi, Dotson and Hlongwane.
St. Clair said Tuesday there has not yet been discussions on his long-term future in Minnesota.
“I”m open to all avenues and roads of whatever the future may hold for me,” St. Clair shared. “It’s been big for me competing for the (Canadian) national team job and I’ve had success. Playing for the national team obviously helps me in all aspects as well and I want to continue to push myself and strive to give myself the best opportunity to be playing in the World Cup in 2026. What the future means for that is yet to be fully determined.”
Turned down
MNUFC declined contract options on: forward Patrick Weah; defenders Hugo Bacharach and Derek Dodson; midfielders Moses Nyeman and Trapp; and goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
Bacharach was the Loons’ ninth overall pick in last year’s draft, but the Spaniard, who holds an international roster spot, dealt with multiple injuries, including a meniscus surgery in the spring.
Midfielder Franco Fragapane is out of contract and will leave the club; defender Zarek Valentin announced his retirement toward the end of the season.
Guaranteed contracts
Loons have 15 players with deals for next season are: forwards Kelvin Yeboah, Teemu Pukki and Jordan Adebayo-Smith; midfielders Robin Lod, Joaquín Pereyra, Sang Bin Jeong and Loic Mesanvi; and defenders Joseph Rosales, Michael Boxall, Jefferson Diaz, Carlos Harvey, Matus Kmet, Miguel Tapias, Ethan Bristow and DJ Taylor.
MNUFC will need to determine which 12 players it will protect before the expansion draft for upstart San Diego FC on Dec. 11.
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