We had you for a second there, didn’t we? “They’re not going to sign anyone!” you said! “But they said they’d be active in the market!” How right you were, my friends. The summer transfer window is officially closed, and your Loons certainly made a splash. Now that the whiplash of deadline day has had time to fade away, let’s recap all of the action and get you ready to follow the team during the final stretch.

Who

First, we need to get our bearings. In total, MNUFC was involved in 12 transactions during this window, including both incoming and outgoing transfers. I’ll list them below for you, then we’ll discuss a few of the finer details:

In (5):

• M - Dominik Fitz (8/21/25 - transfer from Austria Wien)
• M - Nectarios Triantis (8/22/25 - transfer from Sunderland AFC)
• F - Mamadou Dieng (8/22/25 - transfer from Hartford Athletic)
• F - Kenyel Michel (8/22/25 - transfer from LD Alajuelense)
• M - Alexis Fariña (8/22/25 - loan from Cerro Porteño)

Out (7):

• M - Samuel Shashoua (7/19/25 - loan to Birmingham Legion)
• F - Sang Bin Jeong (7/21/25 - trade to St. Louis CITY SC)
• D - Devin Padelford (7/22/25 - loan to St. Louis CITY SC)
• GK - Wessel Speel (7/23/25 - loan to Shelbourne FC)
• D - Kipp Keller (8/22/25 - loan to New Mexico United)
• F - Kenyel Michel (8/22/25 - loan to LD Alajuelense)
• F - Tani Oluwaseyi (8/29/25 - transfer to Villarreal)

Now, even the most seasoned soccer fan might glance quickly at that list and come away with a question or two. Never fear: we’ll make it all clear.

Why

Time to dive into the whys! Let’s start with the new guys. Of the five players signed by the Loons this window, four will be joining the team before the end of the season. Eagle-eyed fans — or fans at least vaguely paying attention to what they’re reading — may have seen that Costa Rican forward Kenyel Michel is on both lists. That’s because he’s been loaned back to the club we signed him from. This gives the Loons flexibility with international roster spots, and gives Michel a chance to finish his current season in Costa Rica before joining his new teammates next year.

As far as Fitz, Triantis, Dieng, and Fariña are concerned, you’ll likely have a chance to see all four before the 2025 season wraps up. Dieng is already in camp and training with the squad, while the other three await work visas before officially joining the action. I wrote a whole article about how Fitz might fit into the squad, but let’s cover the other three before we move on to the outbound transfers from this past window.

First off, we have Nectarios Triantis, a defender/defensive midfielder with imposing size. The Greek-Australian CDM joins the Loons from Sunderland of the English Premier League, fresh off a loan spell with Hibernian FC of the Irish top flight. While his defensive capabilities make him a versatile option for the coaching staff, I expect to see him line up in the double pivot with the likes of Robin Lod, Wil Trapp, or Carlos Harvey once he’s here and ready to play.

Mamadou Dieng is a young, promising Senegalese striker from the USL. He joins after putting up some impressive performances in America’s second division, and will provide cover for Kelvin Yeboah at the number nine spot. Fariña will also likely provide cover, joining the midfield core as an additional two-way option. He fits the mold of a number eight more than a six or 10, making him an ideal addition as the Loons head down the final stretch of the season. His year-long loan with an option to buy provides the club flexibility to secure his services in the future.

Now, let’s get to the outgoing transfers. The likes of Devin Padelford, Kipp Keller, Samuel Shashoua, and Wessel Speel have all been loaned out to get more playing time, while freeing up roster spots for the Loons to use this season. Sang Bin Jeong and Tani Oluwaseyi are the only two players to fully leave the club this window, with the pair of attackers taking the next step in their journeys after providing Loons fans with plenty of exciting memories. Whether on loan or lacing up for a new club, we wish our outbound players nothing but good luck in the games and years to come.

Notes From KEA

If you haven’t already listened to MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad’s media availability, let me recap some of his finer points for you. As I alluded to at the outset of this article, many fans may have grown anxious when signings didn’t come at the very beginning of the window. While business would get done early in an ideal world, there are plenty of factors that go into transfer timing, meaning we don’t always get to choose when players will arrive.

“We could have been more picky this year; we’ve raised the level significantly,” El-Ahmad said. “So, just trying to get players in early isn’t the main plan here. The plan here is to get the right players in. Would we want all of the players to be here on July 24th? 100%. It’s not like we plan and wait to get them in on the last day of the window. There’s context we can’t control: the European transfer window.”

El-Ahmad went on to explain some of the nuances that both played into this window’s deals, before diving into the state of the team ahead of this final stretch. He spoke to the interplay between the long and short term goals of the club, detailing how each window is about creating an environment for sustainable success, rather than a flash in the pan.

“You have that urge to win now, which the coaches and the players and the fans have — and by the way, so do I — but I have to sometimes disconnect myself from it and take a step back and go, ‘Well, what happens in January? Where is the flexibility? What happens next summer? …It does fall on me to have that dialogue with the CEO and ownership to prepare, because I would like us to win sustainably, not just one really good season and then just fall off the cliff. I would hope we continue to improve. There will be ups and downs in it, but if you look at the last 18 months, every window we get a little better.”

With another window in the books and an updated roster ready to face the business end of the 2025 MLS season, the club finds itself in a strong position to challenge for not one, but three trophies, as well as a spot in next season’s Concacaf Champions Cup. There’s plenty left to play for, and your newest Loons will play a huge role in finishing out what has already been a huge season for Minnesota United.