Minnesota United bid farewell to goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair on Wednesday, posting a thank you video on the team website.
St. Clair, the MLS goalkeeper of the year, is a free agent, and though the Loons had been negotiating to re-sign him, published reports indicate he might be joining Lionel Messi and league champion Inter Miami.
The 28-year-old keeper for the Canadian men’s national team, St. Clair posted a goodbye note to Minnesota on his Instagram account that read, in part:
“I’ll cherish the moment we created well beyond my career. I wish you all the best moving forward. Fly high Loons. Thank you Twin Cities.”
St. Clair has been the Loons’ starting goalie since 2022. He set career highs for shutouts and saves, and his advanced shot-stopping numbers were also excellent. Stats website American Soccer Analysis said St. Clair had saved nearly 10 goals more than expected during the regular season, the fourth-best season in its database, which goes back to 2013. Heaalso developed a reputation as the penalty-kick king of MLS.
Minnesota United’s season ended with a loss to San Diego in the Western Conference semifinals last month. The Loons set a club record for points in a season and hosted a playoff round for the first time, in a full non-COVID season, since 2019.
In addition to St. Clair, defender Kipp Keller; midfielders Robin Lod, Samuel Shashoua and Hassani Dotson; and forward Loïc Mesanvi were at the end of their contracts with the Loons. Dotson signed with the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, the Loons acquired midfielder Peter Stroud from the Red Bulls for for $475,000.
