
Minnesota United Exercises Buyout of Guaranteed Contract on Defender Ike Opara
August 5, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn,. - Minnesota United today announced that the club has used its one offseason buyout on defender Ike Opara. While Opara will no longer occupy a spot on the team's roster, his contract will remain active through the full term of the agreement, which is set to end in December this year.
"Despite concerted and ongoing efforts to resolve health concerns, we were not able to return Ike to match fitness on our timeline," said MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer, Manny Lagos. "It has been a frustrating and disappointing period for all involved, made obvious by the fact that he was everything we wanted when he joined and played for the Club. He was selected as Defender of the Year during our playoff run season, and had earned a new contract. We are grateful for all he did on behalf of MNUFC, and hope that time will allow him a return to the game at which he has so excelled."
Major League Soccer Stories from August 5, 2021
- New York Red Bulls Add Uruguay U-20 Defender Lucas Monzón on Loan from Danubio FC - New York Red Bulls
- Sounders FC Adds Brazilian Attacker Léo Chú and French Winger Nicolas Benezet on Transfer Deadline Day - Seattle Sounders FC
- Rapids Trade Nicolas Benezet to Seattle Sounders FC - Colorado Rapids
- Sporting KC Transfers Gianluca Busio to Venezia FC - Sporting Kansas City
- Minnesota United Exercises Buyout of Guaranteed Contract on Defender Ike Opara - Minnesota United FC
- Earthquakes Acquire Forward Jeremy Ebobisse in Trade with Portland Timbers - San Jose Earthquakes
- Timbers Acquire $1.167 Million in General Allocation Money from San Jose for Forward Jeremy Ebobisse - Portland Timbers
- Austin FC Midfielder Tomás Pochettino Voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 17 - MLS
- Whitecaps FC Acquire 19-Year-Old Ecuadorian Attacking Midfielder Pedro Vite - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Sergio Ruiz Is 'Eager to Get Started' in Charlotte - Charlotte FC
- Orlando City SC Forward Nani Voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 16 - MLS
- Sporting KC Signs Midfielder Jose Mauri - Sporting Kansas City
- New York Red Bulls Trade Midfielder Florian Valot to FC Cincinnati - New York Red Bulls
- Chicago Fire FC Agrees to Transfer Midfielder Przemysław Frankowski to Ligue 1 Club RC Lens - Chicago Fire FC
- Kieran Gibbs Named to MLS Team of the Week - Inter Miami CF
- Ryan Madden Joins Austin FC as Vice President of Communications & Media - Austin FC
- Sam Vines Joins Belgian Side Royal Antwerp F.C. - Colorado Rapids
- LA Galaxy Acquire Serbian International Forward Dejan Joveljiæ from Bundesliga Side Eintracht Frankfurt - LA Galaxy
- Houston Dynamo FC sign midfielder Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla on loan from FC Cartagena - Houston Dynamo FC
- Houston Dynamo Loan DF Jose Bizama to Charlotte Independence - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sounders FC and FC Dallas Battle to 1-1 Draw at Lumen Field - Seattle Sounders FC
- LA Galaxy Earn 1-0 Shutout Victory over Real Salt Lake at Home on Wednesday Night - LA Galaxy
- LAFC Suffers 4-1 Home Loss to Sporting Kansas City - Los Angeles FC
- Timbers, Earthquakes Play to 1-1 Draw at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Quakes extend unbeaten streak to six, Chofis scores fourth MLS goal - San Jose Earthquakes
- Real Salt Lake Drops Narrow 1-0 Loss to LA Galaxy - Real Salt Lake
- FC Dallas Scores Late Equalizer to Earn Point on the Road against Seattle Sounders FC - FC Dallas
- Sporting Beats LAFC 4-1 to Take First Place - Sporting Kansas City
- Austin FC Defeats Houston Dynamo FC, 3-2 - Austin FC
- Notes & Quotes: Chicago Fire FC 0 - 0 New York City FC - New York City FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Minnesota United FC Stories
- MNUFC to Host Chicago Fire FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals
- Minnesota United Complete Dramatic Comeback to Advance in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Minnesota United Signs Goalkeeper Wessel Speel to Short-Term Agreement
- Minnesota United FC vs. St. Louis City SC Preview
- Minnesota United Sweep St. Louis City SC in 3-0 Shutout

