ST. PAUL -- Minnesota United has finalized a transfer deal for 21-year-old Swedish center back Mikael Marques, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press on Tuesday.
Marques helps fill a position of need on the Loons’ roster, but it will be interesting once he joins the group to see how developed the right-sided center back is and how much he might contribute in MLS in 2023.
Marques, who holds a Brazilian passport and is listed at 6-foot and 165 pounds, played 2,450 minutes for AFC Eskilstuna in Sweden’s second division in 2022. He played 611 combined minutes for Jonkoping at the same level across 2020-21.
MLSsoccer.com reporter Tom Bogert had MNUFC’s transfer fee at $250,000. The Marques signing is part of the league’s Under-22 Initiative to bring in more youthful players from around the world.
Minnesota is trying to land another center back addition, but that player is older, with experience in Mexico’s Liga MX and might not join until midseason.
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The Loons are amid their second week of preseason training. They left Blaine, Minnesota, for Orlando, Fla., on Sunday and will play their first preseason friendly against New York City FC on Wednesday morning.
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