Minnesota United signed former Charleston Battery fullback Derek Dodson to a one-year contract, with two club options for 2025 and 2026 in January 2024.
Dodson joined Minnesota United after playing 39 games for USL Championship's Charleston Battery during the 2023 season, where he scored three goals and recorded five assists. He started and played all of Charleston's USLC Playoff games, including the final against Phoenix Rising FC.
Prior to his time with Charleston, Dodson had stints with Hartford Athletic and Memphis 901, both in the USL Championship. He scored eight goals and provided six assists in 53 games between both teams.
He played collegiate soccer at Georgetown University from 2017-21, where he scored 32 goals and recorded 14 assists in 72 appearances, including 54 starts. He helped lead the team to its first 2019 NCAA National Championship title. The Aurora, Illinois native captained the Georgetown Hoyas for two years, was a three-time First Team Big East honoree and was named the 2017 Big East Freshman of the Year. He was drafted eighth overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC.
