Devin Padelford grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, and began playing soccer at the age of four in his local community programs. A true multisport athlete, he spent much of his youth participating in basketball, hockey, baseball, and soccer—building a diverse athletic foundation that would serve him well later in his development. 

Originally seeing himself as an attacking player, Devin had already committed to playing college soccer when he entered our Academy’s tryout process. Following thoughtful conversations with our coaching staff, he made the decision to switch positions and joined the Academy full- time for his U19 season—embracing a new role as a left back.

His commitment and adaptability paid off. Devin went on to sign a Homegrown contract with our MLS first team and spent two seasons developing with our MLS NEXT Pro side. He became the third Homegrown signing in club history—and the first to score a goal at Allianz Field in front of a home crowd.

After several seasons of earning time with the first team, Padelford firmly established himself as a professional player. He ultimately spent the back-end of 2025 on loan in St. Louis, returning to his home club with valuable experience and an impressive ability to adapt to whatever the professional soccer world throws at him.

Devin’s journey highlights the value of a multisport background and the importance of flexibility within the development pathway. He entered the elite level of our system later than most, but found opportunity thanks to an open and inclusive player pathway and the strong foundation provided by local soccer experiences.