With the 18th pick of the first round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Minnesota United selected right back Noah Billingsley from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“We were looking at our draft position and you don’t know who’s going to be there. Noah was someone that we were hoping was going to be there and potentially looking to move up to get him,” said MNUFC Technical Director Mark Watson. “He’s someone we’re really excited about and he’s got all the qualities that we think are necessary to make it to the next level and he’s got a great opportunity.”
The 22-year-old New Zealand international, originally a forward, made the move to defense in his junior year and has since started the last 36 games for the Gauchos, with one goal — a game-winner — and six assists in 2019. Billingsley was named to the 2018 All-Big West First Team, the 2018 All-Far West Region Team and the 2016 Big West All-Freshman Team. Internationally, Billingsley currently plays with the New Zealand National Team alongside current Loon and centerback Michael Boxall. He made his national team debut with the U20s in 2015, earning six caps and scoring the U20s’ first World Cup goal in New Zealand history in a 5-1 win over Myanmar that same year. He was the youngest player on that World Cup team. He made his senior national team debut in 2018 coming on as a sub in the 62nd minute versus Kenya in the 2018 Hero Intercontinental Cup on June 2, 2018.
Tickets for the 2020 season at Allianz Field will go on-sale in early 2020, with special presales for season ticket members, members of The Preserve and subscribers to the MNUFC newsletter before the general public. Visit mnufc.com/preserve for more info on The Preserve and mnufc.com/newsletter for more info on subscribing to the newsletter.
VITALS
Noah Billingsley
Position: Right back
Date of birth: August 6, 1997
Height: 6’2”
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand
Citizenship: New Zealand
