Minnesota United FC has welcomed French midfielder Owen Gene to their squad, making him one of the most anticipated additions to the team this winter. The 21-year-old player arrived from the French club Amiens for a reported transfer fee of around $2 million. With this new contract, Gene has signed through 2027, with the option for another year, 2028. He will occupy one of the team's U22 Initiative roster spots, which allows the team to manage salary cap constraints effectively.
Owen Gene is no stranger to competitive football, having played over 100 league games. His experience includes 109 professional appearances since 2021, where he recorded one goal and six assists, showcasing his potential at the midfield position. MNUFC’s chief soccer officer, Khaled El-Ahmad, expressed enthusiasm about the signing, stating, "Owen joins our club with over 100 league games played, adding quality, depth, and competition to our midfield. We are excited to welcome Owen to Minnesota and look forward to seeing the impact he can have on the team this season."
B
This exciting acquisition underlines the club’s commitment to strengthening its lineup as they prepare for the new season. Gene has already been recognized on the international stage, having made his debut for the French U-20 squad earlier this year. His style of play is expected to complement the team’s ambitions moving forward.
Manager Eric Ramsay recognizes the potential Gene brings to the squad, describing him as defensively sound and athletic. He emphasized the importance of allowing Gene to develop at his own pace, saying, "I don’t think we’re going to put huge pressure on him to contribute from day one. The expectation isn’t for him to completely change the look of the team, but he possesses some raw potential and hopefully, he can reach his high ceiling here."
Gene is the second midfielder to join Minnesota during this transfer window, following the signing of South Korean international Hoyeon Jung from Gwangju FC. Both players are expected to help Nor the midfield as Minnesota aims for greater competitive success. Along with Gene and Jung, the Loons have also inked defender Nicolás Romero, enhancing their youth roster under the U22 Initiative, which now features three players: Gene, Romero, and Sang Bin Jeong.
The U22 Initiative is especially beneficial for Minnesota as it allows them to reduce the financial impact of signing younger players, whose salaries count less against the salary cap than those of veterans. With the signing of these young talents, the team is poised to build for the future. Ramsay commented, "We’re not rushing on these players to contribute immediately; we want to integrate them slowly and efficiently."
Currently, Minnesota United has 25 players on their roster, nearing their maximum of 30. The front office does not expect any other signings before the season begins, particularly as the Loons have until April 23 to secure additional players before the next window opens later this year from late July to late August.
Besides roster changes, Minnesota United has also detailed their upcoming schedule for the Leagues Cup, starting with home games against Querétaro on July 30 and Atlético de San Luis on August 6. The Loons will also need to travel to Houston for what many fans see as the marquee matchup, facing Club América on August 2. The revamped tournament now includes only the playoff teams from last season, allowing for more competitive matches across both MLS and Liga MX clubs.
Last year, Minnesota excelled against Liga MX teams, boasting victories over Necaxa, Puebla, and Toluca, the last of which was decided by penalties. The Loons, who missed out on the U.S. Open Cup last season amid disputes about participation, will return to the competition this May. For now, the focus remains on integrating new players like Owen Gene, as the club looks to make significant strides this season, both domestically and internationally.