Minnesota United today announced the club has acquired midfielder Jacori Hayes via trade from FC Dallas, in exchange for a third round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick.
“It’s not very often you get the opportunity to bring somebody in who is young, who has experience in the league,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “Always delighted when anybody joins us and we think the midfield is an area where we’re going to need a little more depth. We’ve got the Euro Cup coming up this year, the Olympics coming up and it’s an area where we feel we could get stretched. We spoke to a lot of people who have worked with Jacori now or before and they have a lot of good things to say about him. We’re really excited to get him in.”
Hayes joins Minnesota after three seasons with FC Dallas. The 24-year-old midfielder was selected 18th in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas and has since made 39 game appearances, including 31 minutes in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs at Seattle Sounders. He made his MLS debut against Sporting Kansas City on March 11, 2017, recorded his first MLS assist in March 2018 versus Portland Timbers and first MLS goal in April of 2018 against New England Revolution.
A Wake Forest grad, Hayes appeared in 81 matches and scored 15 times and had 15 assists. He was named a NSCAA First Team All-American in 2016. He earned a USSDA Eastern Conference Starting XI nod during his time with the Baltimore Bays in 2011-2012. Hayes was an All-American at Dematha Catholic High School.
Transaction: Minnesota United trade third round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick to FC Dallas for midfielder Jacori Hayes.
VITALS
Jacori Hayes
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 06.29.1995 (24 years old)
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 150 lbs
Birthplace: Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
Citizenship: United States