The transfer window doesn’t close until April 23, but the season starts this Saturday. New signings Nicolás Romero and Hoyeon Jung will likely both be in attendance and available for selection at BMO Stadium, reinforcing the roster that ended 2024 with a flourish. But they aren’t the only new guys in town.
As you’ve probably heard by now, your Loons added 21-year-old midfielder Owen Gene from French Ligue 2 side Amiens SC. While he won’t be taking the field this weekend, I felt it was appropriate to provide a little more context on the youngster. Consider this a teaser for what you can expect from our latest signing this season.
Raising the Level
Though Gene is only 21, he’s already got the better part of four years of professional soccer under his belt. After making his pro debut at just 17 years old, his career has seen him move from right back to defensive midfield, getting the most out of his one-on-one defensive capabilities and strength carrying the ball. His lanky 6’1” makes him a fantastic ball-winner, while his long passing ability stands out as one of his greatest attributes.
If you take some time to watch one of the highlight videos floating around the interwebs, you’ll immediately notice Gene’s shiftiness on the ball. This gives him impressive dribbling skills for someone his size, allowing him to escape pressure and break lines in a variety of ways. He can turn defense into attack quickly, making him both reliable and dangerous. Not a bad combination.
With the skills and frame to play a multitude of positions, as well as a young mind ready to develop into a successful pro, Gene offers the club yet another versatile piece to work with. Fans shouldn’t be surprised to see him operating at CDM, center back, or even right back if need be. His physicality, speed, and superb first touch out of the air make him a reliable option in all three positions, as does his relative wealth of experience for such a young player.
Since debuting in 2021, Gene has tallied more than 100 professional appearances between Amiens first and second teams. His addition to the roster here in Minnesota immediately raises the level of the squad, and while he may not be a nailed-on starter from the get-go, he provides a unique option for Coach Ramsay to choose from. As competitions stack up and the calendar gets progressively busier, the quality that the Loons have added to the roster will better prepare them to compete on all fronts.
“I really like working with young players,” Ramsay said. “It’s been a big part of what I’ve done over the course of my career, and it’s something I’m going to continue to do. We want to have players that come in with a high ceiling and need some development work. I want to make sure we’ve got a culture that means when they come here, they’re going to come into a group that pushes them and over time, the hope is that these guys can contribute.”
Gene likely won’t be available for the opening weeks of the season as visa details are worked out, but one thing is for sure: once he’s available, Coach Ramsay is going to have a talented youngster to work with.
