Astute listeners of the Nashville Soccer Show will note that I mentioned this possibility earlier this week, and lo, it has come to fruition: Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas is on his way out of Nashville.
From Club release:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 17, 2020) – Nashville Soccer Cub announced today it has traded Goalkeeper Adrían Zendejas to Minnesota United FC in exchange for a 2021 Fourth-Round Major League Soccer SuperDraft pick. Nashville will also receive up to an additional $100,000 in GAM, if Zendejas meets certain performance-based metrics.
Nashville SC acquired Zendejas on Nov. 19, 2019 from Sporting Kansas City via trade and was yet to make his debut with the expansion club in 2020.
The 25-year old keeper was originally signed by Sporting KC’s USL Championship affiliate Swope Park Rangers in the side’s 2016 inaugural season. The 6-foot, 5 inches tall player made his Major League Soccer debut at FC Cincinnati in a 1-1 draw on April 7, 2019 after earning 54 USL Championship starts with SPR. He also started against Panamanian side Club Atlético Independiente in CONCACAF Champions League on Mar. 6, 2019.
Transaction: Nashville SC trades Goalkeeper Adrían Zendejas to Minnesota United FC in exchange for a 2021 Fourth-Round Major League Soccer SuperDraft pick. Nashville will also receive up to an additional $100,000 in GAM, if Zendejas meets certain performance-based metrics.
It’s been clear for a few weeks that Zendejas – even though he was once seen as a potential Keeper of the Future for this club – had been passed on the depth chart by rookie Elliot Panicco. Trading the No. 3 keeper makes some sense, especially with former Bundesliga backup Brady Scott on the club’s books (albeit on loan to Sacramento Republic right now, with NSC having a right-to-recall at any time, though he’d have to quarantine in-market before being available for selection).
Zendejas is a solid keeper with a strong relationship with Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs (for whom he played in Kansas City, particularly with Swope Park Rangers) – this is a business decision, not a personal one. It gives Nashville one more opening on the roster should they look to sign another player at any point in this transfer window, and assets to use in the future, as well. From a Minnesota perspective, they acquire another piece at GK after losing starter Tyler Miller for the year, and Zendejas has the talent to challenge for more playing time in the Twin Cities than he likely would have received in Nashville.
Adrian Zendejas photo by Tim Sullivan/For Club and Country.
Club and Country 