Bafana Bafana international Bongokuhle Hlongwane has secured a contract extension with Minnesota United, ensuring he will remain with the club for the upcoming season.

Minnesota United announced its roster decisions following the conclusion of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.

Hlongwane, who joined Minnesota from Maritzburg United in January 2022, has made a significant impact, appearing in 37 matches across all competitions and contributing 11 goals and four assists last season.

Despite his impressive performances, Hlongwane was not selected for the Bafana Bafana squad that won the bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. However, he was part of Hugo Broos’ squad during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last November.

The club has exercised contract options for several key players, including goalkeepers Alec Smir and Dayne St. Clair, defenders Morris Duggan, Anthony Markanich Jr., and Devin Padelford, midfielders Hassani Dotson, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, and Sam Shashoua, and forward Tani Oluwaseyi.

Former SuperSport United defender Michael Boxall, who won the Nedbank Cup with the club in 2015/16 and 2016/17, has also extended his contract with Minnesota United.

Players with guaranteed contracts for the 2025 season include defenders Michael Boxall, Ethan Bristow, Jefferson Diaz, Carlos Harvey, Matúš Kmeť, Joseph Rosales, Miguel Tapias, and DJ Taylor, midfielders Sang Bin Jeong, Robin Lod, Loïc Mesanvi, and Joaquín Pereyra, and forwards Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Teemu Pukki, and Kelvin Yeboah.

However, the club has also made several roster changes. Contract options were declined for goalkeeper Clint Irwin, defenders Hugo Bacharach and Derek Dodson, midfielders Moses Nyeman and Wil Trapp, and forward Patrick Weah. Additionally, midfielder Franco Fragapane is out of contract, and defender Zarek Valentin has retired.

Minnesota United’s Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, Khaled El-Ahmad, expressed gratitude to the departing players for their contributions and wished them well in their future endeavors.

The club is currently in negotiations with midfielder Wil Trapp, while midfielder Alejandro Bran will continue his loan spell with Burton Albion FC in England through the summer of 2025.

These roster changes come after Minnesota United finished sixth in the MLS regular season under the guidance of Welsh manager Eric Ramsay.

Minnesota United 2025 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Alec Smir, Dayne St. Clair Defenders: Michael Boxall, Ethan Bristow, Jefferson Diaz, Morris Duggan, Carlos Harvey, Matúš Kmeť, Anthony Markanich Jr., Joseph Rosales, Miguel Tapias, DJ Taylor, Devin Padelford Midfielders: Hassani Dotson, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Sang Bin Jeong, Robin Lod, Loïc Mesanvi, Joaquín Pereyra, Sam Shashoua Forwards: Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Tani Oluwaseyi, Teemu Pukki, Kelvin Yeboah