Minnesota United on Monday acquired the third veteran player in a week whom they expect to provide defensive depth and locker room presence — at a bargain price.
The Loons obtained nine-year MLS veteran Doneil Henry off waivers at center back, arguably the club's biggest area of need.
Last week, they signed veteran goalkeeper Clint Irwin to back up starter and Canadian World Cup team member Dayne St. Clair and signed veteran right back Zarek Valentin at a position missing 2019 MLS All Star Romain Metanire.
Both Henry and Valentin will fill supplemental roster slots so they don't count against the team's stretched salary cap.
"Each player had their own individual situation that made them a good fit for us," Loons technical director Mark Watson said. "These are all players we've known about for a long time. They're all good players. They all have a common denominator and that was just experience and good character and they can build our senior leadership with the club."
They also come at the right price for a team that has kept space to add a goal-scoring designated player if they find the right one — and if they buy down restricted designated player Luis Amarilla or Mender Garcia to make room.
"When you're looking at a player and the quality they bring, unfortunately we have a cap and have to be smart so we can work within that cap."
The Loons also have two Under-22, cap-friendly salary slots, one of which they will use on a young center back.
