The Loons finalized a transfer to acquire young Swedish center back Mikael Marques from that country's second division, a source confirmed on Tuesday.
Minnesota United finalize transfer deal with Swedish center back Mikael Marques
The 21-year-old Marques played in 28 games last year for AFC Eskilstuna.
January 18, 2023 at 1:51AM
Marques, 21, played 28 games in 2022 for AFC Eskilstuna and is being acquired under MLS' Under-22 initiative in which teams are allowed to sign three players age 22 and younger to contracts at a reduced salary-cap charge.
Marques' arrival helps address the team's biggest need for depth and youth at center back, where starter Bakaye Dibassy remains on the road back from a season-ending ruptured quadriceps tendon last August.
Minnesota started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.
