:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66371291/475940798.jpg.0.jpg)
This morning Minnesota United announced the club has officially signed Noah Billingsley. The Loons selected Billingsley in the 1st Round as the 18th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SueprDraft.
“We had high hopes for Noah when we drafted him and that’s been confirmed in the two weeks that we’ve had him,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “Good kid, tremendous athlete, wants to get better. We think there’s so much more room and scope for him to improve and we’re pleased with Noah. It was pretty evident from early on that we were going to sign him and now he’s got in his foot in the door and now he’s got to take it. It’s a bit like Chase and Hassani last year, they’ve taken opportunities that have come their way, now he’s going to have to do the same because there will be opportunities for him.”
The 22 year old New Zealander comes to MNUFC after a four year career playing college soccer with the Gauchos of UC-Santa Barbara. During his Freshman and Sophomore seasons Billingsley played forward for UCSB making 33 appearances for the Gauchos and starting 23 of those matches. Over those 33 appearances he scored 4 goals and had 5 assists. Prior to his Junior season Billingsley would move from forward to defense and would make 36 appearances, starting all 36 matches in his final two seasons. As a defensive player he would score two goals but still get seven assists, with six of those assists coming in his Senior Year in 2019.
“It’s been a dream of mine for the last 18 years, so for it to finally have happened, it’s pretty amazing. I’m over the moon for myself and for my mum,” said MNUFC defender Noah Billingsley. “Coming in, everyone has been so nice and I don’t think I could be in a better environment.”
As an International player Billingsley has played for New Zealand’s U20, U23, and Senior level sides. He made 11 appearances for the U20 team, 4 for the U23, and has made three for the senior side alongside fellow MNUFC player Michael Boxall.
Stay tuned to E Pluribus Loonum for more pre-season updates on Minnesota United FC.