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Last night Minnesota United officially acquired Goalkeeper Tyler Miller from Los Angeles Football Club. This morning the club announced another acquisition, signing James Musa to a contract for 2020.
Musa, a 10 year vet, is a defensive midfielder who has spent the last two seasons with Phoenix Rising of the USL Championship. Over the two years in Phoenix he made 54 appearances for the club, starting 44 times including being an integral part of Phoenix’s 20 game unbeaten streak.
“James is one of them players who’s been in and out of the league and he’s been on that cusp of being in the league,” said MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We had a good long chat with James because we’ve got the likes of Hassani Dotson, Jan Gregus, Ozzie Alonso in front of him — a really competitive area of the field — and he’s up for the challenge. Physically, he’s very imposing, very athletic. Really good personality, he’s very strong-willed and we think he’s going to come in and try to compete. He knows it’s going to be tough but he’s prepared to embrace the challenge and compete for a starting spot. He’s got the opportunity, so it’s up to him to take it.”
Musa will be the second New Zealand International to join the club alongside fellow Kiwi, Michael Boxall. As an International for New Zealand he has 1 cap for the All Whites back in 2014 while playing for Team Wellington in the NZ Premiership. His club career began with A-League side Wellington Phoenix in 2010/11, after which he moved to Team Wellington. After one season there he moved to Fulham FC’s U23 side and was also loaned out to Hereford United. From there Musa went back to New Zealand playing for Team Wellington again for two seasons. In 2015 he jumped to St. Louis FC in the USL making 51 league appearances for them over two seasons and 6 appearances back with Team Wellington in between seasons. In 2017 Musa left St. Louis for fellow USL club Swope Park Rangers in Kansas City, making 21 league and 3 playoff appearances for the club. Due to his performance in 2017 he was also called up to Sporting Kansas City where he made just one appearance but was selected for the matchday squad six times.