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Loons add third veteran defensive piece in Doneil Henry

The Loons added backup goalkeeper Clint Irwin and fullback Zarek Valetin via free agency last week.

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ST. PAUL -- Minnesota United added more veteran defensive depth with the signing of center back Doneil Henry from the end-of-year waivers list, the club said Monday.

Henry, who was a member of the Canadian national team at the FIFA World Cup, split time with Toronto FC and Los Angeles FC last season, appearing in 11 total MLS games. The Brampton, Ontario native started his career with the Reds before playing in England, Denmark, South Korea and elsewhere in MLS.

Henry, who will turn 30 next April, earned $403,000 in guaranteed compensation last season, per the MLS Players Association. But the 6-foot-2, 181-pound player will come into the Loons on a much lower salary figure and will be on the club’s supplemental roster, a source told the Pioneer Press. The Loons did not share contract length Monday.

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The 29-year-old Ohio native will return to MNUFC for his third season with the club next year. Trapp had guaranteed compensation of $784,875 in 2022, per MLS Players’ Association figures.

The Loons, meanwhile, have been pursuing a couple of young international center backs as part of MLS’ Under-22 initiative.

Henry will provide an option for manager Adrian Heath behind the current starters of Michael Boxall and Brent Kallman. Top center back Bakaye Dibassy has been progressing ahead of schedule in his rehab from a ruptured quadriceps tendon in late August. The original timeline was Dibassy could miss the start of the 2023 season.

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The Loons added backup goalkeeper Clint Irwin and fullback Zarek Valetin via free agency last week. All three additions will be over 30 years old next season.

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