TRANSFER TRACKER:Trade
Minnesota United added more midfield depth by acquiring all-terrain center-mid Jacori Hayes via trade from FC Dallas, with a third round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick heading the other direction.
Hayes, 24, has recorded one goal and three assists across 38 matches (20 starts) in three seasons since entering the league, but goals and assists are not what he's about on the field. The two-way central midfielder is known as a ball-winner and he also has the technical skills to jumpstart the attack with the first pass.
He originally landed in Dallas as a first-round selection (18th overall) during the 2017 MLS SuperDraft after playing collegiately at Wake Forest. Check out some highlights of Hayes in action with FC Dallas:
“It’s not very often you get the opportunity to bring somebody in who is young, who has experience in the league,” said head coach Adrian Heath. “Always delighted when anybody joins us and we think the midfield is an area where we’re going to need a little more depth.
“We’ve got the Euro Cup coming up this year, the Olympics coming up and it’s an area where we feel we could get stretched [with players departing for international duty]. We spoke to a lot of people who have worked with Jacori now or before and they have a lot of good things to say about him. We’re really excited to get him in.”
Hayes will compete to be next in line to starting central midfielders Osvaldo Alonso and Jan Gregus. The team also acquired central defensive midfielder James Musa during the offseason and Hasani Dotson operated as a center-mid during his 2019 rookie season.
Minnesota open their 2020 season on March 1 at the Portland Timbers and will be looking to make it two straight trips to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
