TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Minnesota United FC have signed defender Devin Padelford as a homegrown player, the club announced Thursday.
Padelford's contract runs through 2024 with club options for 2025-26. The 19-year-old becomes the first homegrown signing out of the Loons' new Minnesota United Youth Development Program.
“We’re really pleased and excited for Devin. He’s come a long way in the last 12 months to the extent that we feel he’s earned a professional contract,” head coach Adrian Heath said in a release. “He’s got his foot on the ladder and it’s up to him now. He’s got a lot of really good qualities for a modern-day fullback"
Padelford joined Minnesota's Youth Development Program in 2021, playing for the club's U-19 team while scoring two goals and dishing out eight assists in 13 MLS NEXT matches. Originally a left-footed attacker, Padelford was switched to a fullback upon joining Minnesota United, where he's projected to feature at the next level.
Before joining Minnesota United, Padelford was a standout for local club St. Croix Academy and Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, where he was an All-State selection and Conference Player of the Year in 2021.
Padelford is now the third homegrown player on Minnesota's first-team roster, joining forward Patrick Weah and goalkeeper Fred Emmings.
