Minnesota United announced today the club has signed defender Zarek Valentin to a one-year contract, with a club option.

Valentin joins MNUFC after three seasons with the Houston Dynamo where he started 50 matches and provided four assists. The fullback spent the majority of his career with the Portland Timbers, starting more than 80 MLS games and tallying four assists across four seasons. Valentin was a regular starter on the squad that went to the 2018 MLS Cup Final against Atlanta United.

The MLS veteran began his professional career with Chivas USA when he was selected fourth overall by the club in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. He started 24 games his rookie season for Chivas USA and was selected by the Montreal Impact (now Montreal CF) in the 2011 Expansion Draft. Valentin played two seasons in Montreal before heading overseas where he signed with FK Bodø/Glimt of the Norwegian First Division in 2013. He spent three seasons in Norway with FK Bodø/Glimt before returning to MLS in 2016 with the Timbers.

Internationally, Valentin is a member of the Puerto Rico National Team. Despite playing for the U.S. at a variety of youth levels, Valentin chose to represent Puerto Rico in October of 2020 ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. He scored his first international goal in a Concacaf Nations League match against Cayman Islands and, to date, has four caps for Puerto Rico.

TRANSACTION: Minnesota United has signed defender Zarek Valentin to a one-year contract, with a club option. 

VITALS

Zarek Valentin
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 8.6.1991 (31 years old)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 170 lbs
Birthplace: Lancaster, Pennsylvania