MLS Moves: Loons add to European contingent

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Feb 8, 2017

Danish winger Bashkim Kadrii has been signed to a loan deal by MLS expansion club Minnesota United FC.

Kadrii, 25, comes to MLS from FC Copenhagen, for which he has played since 2014. The loan runs until the end of 2017 and is his first move to a club outside his native country. In 125 Superligaen games he has scored 21 goals and registered 21 assists. His Copenhagen contract expires in June, 2018.

“Bashkim is another really good attacking piece we have added to the club. He’s fit and healthy and ready for a new challenge,” said Loons’ head coach Adrian Heath in a team statement. “He can play any of the forward positions, left, right and through the middle. He’s got an eye for goal and good pace and we are really excited to have him.”

A Danish national of Albanian descent, Kadrii came through the youth system of B93, for which he made his pro debut in 2008 at 17. He moved to Odense in 2010 and then to FC Copenhagen in 2014. A knee injury suffered in his first season with FCC has limited him to 27 games in the past three seasons, during which he’s scored three goals.

He’s been on the radar screen of Minnesota United and sporting director Manny Lagos for some time. “I spoke with Manny [Lagos] and Adrian [Heath] and I had a really good feeling about coming to Minnesota,” Kadrii said. “The plan and the style of play they each spoke about really helped me understand what the club is trying to do and it made me very comfortable with my decision.”

In 22 Champions League and Europa League games he’s scored two goals. A former Danish youth international, he earned his only senior cap in 2011. He is the fourth player signed by the Loons from a Scandinavian club.

Minnesota United European signings:
GOALKEEPERS:
John Alvbage (IFK Goteborg/SWE, Loan)
DEFENDERS:
Vadim Demidov (Brann/NOR, Transfer)
MIDFIELDERS:
Rasmus Schueller (Hacken/SWE, Transfer)
FORWARDS:
Bashkim Kadrii (FC Copenhagen/DEN, Loan)