TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Re-signed
Osvaldo Alonso is back for a third season with Minnesota United FC and 13th overall in MLS, as the club announced Saturday that they’ve re-signed the 35-year-old veteran.
Alonso is regarded as a top-end defensive midfielder in MLS history, appearing in 314 games with 12 goals and 25 assists since the 2009 campaign. The Cuba native is a four-time MLS All-Star.
“We’ve managed to retain a player who I believe has been the best in his position for the last 10 years in MLS,” head coach Adrian Heath said in a release. “You look at the makeup of the player and it’s more than just his ability, there’s been loads of players with ability that fall by the wayside and never had a career.
“Ozzie has maximized everything that he has ever had: his talent, his personality, his leadership qualities and his professionalism. It’s more than just his football, everyone knows how good he is on the field, you can’t have enough people in your organization like him.”
Alonso initially entered MLS with the Seattle Sounders, helping the Pacific Northwest club win four U.S. Open Cups and one MLS Cup (2016) and Supporters’ Shield (2014) apiece. In 2020, Alonso helped Minnesota advance to the Western Conference Final before falling against his former team.
Alonso dealt with injuries during the 2020 campaign, limiting him to nine starts. In deep-lying spots, the Loons also have Hassani Dotson and Wil Trapp, with Trapp joining as a free agent after last competing for Inter Miami CF.
