Loons trade defender Joseph Rosales to Austin FC
Dec 19, 2025
Minnesota United has regularly fielded calls from other clubs, both inside MLS and elsewhere in the world, inquiring about the availability of left back Joseph Rosales.
On Friday, the Loons moved on from the Honduran international, trading him to Austin FC for $1.5 million in General Allocation Mone
y (GAM), a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press. The Athletic first reported the news Friday night.
The emergence of Anthony Markanich, who scored a stunning nine goals in 2025, at the same left wingback spot as Rosales, gave United a basis for parting ways with Rosales.
Rosales played five seasons for the Loons, with his best season coming in 2024 when he contributed seven primary assists across 2,399 minutes in 30 matches. He played 1,449 minutes in 25 regular-season MLS games last year, but his last action for Minnesota was receiving a red card for violent conduct in the MLS Cup Playoffs first-round-series-clinching Game 3 against Seattle Sounders on Nov. 8.
Rosales was also a culprit in Austin FC being able to score the winning goal to knock MNUFC out of the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Sept. 17.
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