TRANSFER TRACKER:Signing
Minnesota United continues to build through the MLS SuperDraft, with the club announcing Tuesday that they’ve signed 2020 first-round pick Noah Billingsley.
Billingsley, 22, is a defender who played collegiately at UC Santa Barbara. He’s also been capped by the New Zealand men’s national team, just like fellow Loons defender Michael Boxall, and was selected 18th overall by Minnesota.
“We had high hopes for Noah when we drafted him and that’s been confirmed in the two weeks that we’ve had him,” said head coach Adrian Heath in a statement. “Good kid, tremendous athlete, wants to get better. We think there’s so much more room and scope for him to improve and we’re pleased with Noah. It was pretty evident from early on that we were going to sign him and now he’s got in his foot in the door and now he’s got to take it. It’s a bit like Chase [Gasper] and Hassani [Dotson] last year, they’ve taken opportunities that have come their way, now he’s going to have to do the same because there will be opportunities for him.”
Minnesota found success through the SuperDraft last year, adding midfielder Hassani Dotson and outside back Chase Gasper. They both placed in the top five of voting for the 2019 MLS Rookie of the Year award, while Gasper received his first US men’s national team cap earlier this winter. Mason Toye has also found success as a No. 9, having played collegiately at Indiana.
Billingsley originally played forward for UC Santa Barbara, but shifted to the back line as a junior. He was named to the 2018 All-Big West First Team, the 2018 All-Far West Region Team and the 2016 Big West All-Freshman Team.
“It’s been a dream of mine for the last 18 years, so for it to finally have happened, it’s pretty amazing," Billingsley said. "I’m over the moon for myself and for my mum. Coming in, everyone has been so nice and I don’t think I could be in a better environment.”
Minnesota are days away from their 2020 season opener, when they’ll travel for a March 1 meeting at the Portland Timbers.
