Kieran Chandler '23 Selected by Minnesota United in Major League Soccer Draft
Kieran Chandler ’23, a sophomore on the UConn men's soccer team, has been selected to play professional soccer for Minnesota United Football Club, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
Kieran was selected 43rd overall (round 2, pick 13) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft on December 20. Minnesota United is based in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and is in the Western Conference of the MLS.
Kieran was a standout soccer player at Loomis Chaffee in the 2021 and 2022 fall seasons. He was a two-year letter winner under coaches Dave Malloy and Scott Halpern. During his high school career, he was named an All-American, All-State, and All-New England player and served as team captain during his senior season. Kieran finished his Loomis career with an impressive 21 goals and 53 assists.
At UConn, he has continued to excel, making 35 appearances and 32 starts, primarily at left back, over two seasons. This fall, he started all 18 games, recording four assists and earning All-BIG EAST Third Team honors for the second consecutive year. As a freshman, he was named BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, tallying two goals and four assists.
Most recently, Kieran participated in the 2024 Adidas Major League Soccer College Showcase December 11–14 in San Diego, California. This event brought together 44 top collegiate players, providing MLS club technical staffs the opportunity to scout talent ahead of the draft.
From his standout years at Loomis Chaffee to his collegiate success at UConn and now to the professional stage with Minnesota United, Kieran’s dedication and skill have made him a player to watch as he embarks on his MLS career.