San Diego select Loffelsend, Bruseth and Diop, trading two more

There’s a spiritual feeling that an expansion side only breathes its first MLS breath when it adds MLS experience and solidity at its Expansion Draft.

Before then, star signings are seen as a PR exercise to get media attention.

As San Diego FC began with Mexican international Chucky Lozano, Inter Miami had Leo Messi and Sounders FC had Freddie Ljungberg.

All showed intent that they meant business both on and off the field. But the MLS Expansion Draft adds foundation to the squad.

Tonight it was the turn of MLS’s 30th club, San Diego FC.

Head Coach Mikey Varas selected the following five players to join his outfit in the Expansion draft:

1. Jasper Loffelsend (Defender, Midfielder from Colorado)
2. Heine Gikling Bruseth (Midfielder from Orlando)
3. Hamady Diop (Defender from Charlotte)

Picks 4 and 5 were immediately traded.

4. Hosei Kijima (St Louis traded to DC United)
5. Thiago Andrade (NYCFC traded to Toronto)

Loffelsend made 21 appearances for Colorado in 2024 after two seasons with Real Salt Lake. He has two goals and eight assists in 69 total matches in MLS.

Bruseth joined Orlando City SC in August from Norwegian top-flight side Kristiansund BK, but has yet to play a match in MLS. The Norwegian youth international occupies a U22 Initiative roster slot.

Diop was selected #1 overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC. He played four matches for The Crown before being loaned out to Serbian top-flight side FK Cukaricki.

They join current players Chucky Lozano (Mexico), Duran Feree (USA), Tomás Ángel (Colombia), Alex Mighten (England), Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland), Marcus Ingvartsen and Jeppe Tverskov (both Denmark) as existing squad members.

Those seven players are currently out on loan for the remainder of 2024.

Swedish defender Chris McVey was acquired from DC United earlier in the day. In exchange for McVey’s Right of First Refusal, San Diego sent DC up to $100,000 in General Allocation Money ($50k guaranteed; $50k conditional).

Per San Diego Futbol tonight, San Diego FC announced the acquisition of goalkeeper CJ dos Santos from Inter Miami in exchange for $100,000 in 2025 GAM.

Dos Santos has a guaranteed contract through the 2025 MLS season with a Club option for an additional year. The trade will be executed upon the reopening of the MLS trade window following tonight’s Expansion Draft.

Ángel, the most recent arrival, is the son of Colombian football legend Juan Pablo Ángel.

In other business, SDFC also surrendered $100,000 to Columbus Crew in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot which remains to be filled.

This is the full list of available players from which Varas chose.

The new club’s ownership group consists of the Anglo-Egyptian businessman and former politician Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe.

They will play at Snapdragon Stadium which they will share with SDSU Gridiron side and San Diego Wave.

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