Minnesota United has six key players coming up on the end of their contracts and Khaled El-Ahmad addressed the status of each on Tuesday.
Three veterans — Michael Boxall, Wil Trapp and Robin Lod — are in the final year of their deals this season, but all have one-year club options for the 2026 season. It appears at least the majority of that trio will be back when those are picked up for next season.
El-Ahmad, the Loons’ chief soccer officer, said he is “happy” with the performance of all three this season. The group of 30-somethings have all played more than 2,000 minutes so far this season and have helped lead MNUFC to second place in the Western Conference heading into the stretch run toward the MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup semifinal.
“(Boxall has) probably had one of his best seasons,” El-Ahmad said this week. “And I’ve always said it that we want Boxy to to be with us for as long as he and we want. And I think he continues to improve, stays healthy, and we should, knock on wood, have our captain competing (for New Zealand) in the (FIFA) World Cup at our soil, which is an amazing story.”
El-Ahmad said the same goes for Trapp. “If you look at probably the last year and a half, you’ve seen a more reenergized Trapp,” he said. “I think he’s done a great job.”
On Lod, El-Ahmad didn’t say as much: “Lod has an option. Happy with him as well.”
Those three players have been integral to United’s spine for the last few seasons, but are on big salary numbers going into age-33 seasons for Lod and Trapp and age-38 season for Boxall. Lod is the Loons’ highest-paid player at $1.68 million; Boxall is the fifth at $827,500; Trapp is further down the Loons’ list of highest paid at $554,500, according to the MLS Players Association.
MLS All-Star goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and emerging left wingback Anthony Markanich are set to become free agents at the end of the year.
“W’ere in dialog and would like Dayne to stay,” El-Ahmad said.”Same thing with Anthony Markanich.”
St. Clair is tied for second in MLS with nine clean sheets this season and is entering his prime (age 28) as Canada’s No. 1 keeper for the World Cup in the U.S, Canada and Mexico next summer. He is currently earning $631,875, which is well outside the top 10 in MLS, according to MLSPA data.
“It’s a core group of players I’d like to keep,” El-Ahmad said about those five overall. “And then there’s other parties that might have some other expectations or interests, but we’ll manage that as it comes. But from a club perspective, (we) would like to keep all those players.”
El-Ahmad did not mention Hassani Dotson, who suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in March. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, but has returned to some training drills in the last few weeks in Blaine.
Via his agent in January, Dotson’s requested a trade from Minnesota, but he started the season for MNUFC in central midfield. Head coach Eric Ramsay and Trapp both said at the time that Dotson was nothing but professional amid the contract issue. Dotson’s salary is up to $682,500 this year, per MLSPA.
On Tuesday, El-Ahmad was prompted to address where things stand with Dotson’s future.
“I think for Hassani it’s just keep focusing on trying to get healthy,” El-Ahmad said. “It was a significant repair and happy to see him on the pitch training. And I don’t think there’s much to say around that at this moment.”
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