June 3, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Austin FC Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin FC announced today that the club has agreed to terms with Danish defender Mikkel Desler. Desler joins Austin FC on a three-and-a-half year guaranteed contract until the end of the 2027 season, with an additional option for 2028. Desler will not arrive in the United States until he receives his ITC and P-1 visa.
“When I first spoke to Rodolfo and told him about my project at Austin FC, I knew the opportunity to join the club was one I couldn’t pass up,” said Desler. “I’m really looking forward to going to Austin, meeting my teammates and fans, and playing at Q2 Stadium for the first time.”
Desler (pronounced “mick-kell dess-ler”) arrived in Austin as a free agent signing, having recently played for Toulouse FC. In his first season at Toulouse in 2021/2022, he was named in the Ligue 2 Team of the Year and played a key role in helping the team win the Ligue 2 title and gain promotion to Ligue 1, the highest level of professional football. france.
The following season, Dessler and Toulouse won the Coupe de France, France’s most prestigious cup competition, and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. He appeared in seven of Toulouse’s eight Europa League matches in 2023/2024, scoring in the knockout round match against SL Benfica and playing the full 90 minutes in the team’s 3-2 win over Liverpool FC.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mikkel and his family to Austin,” said Austin FC Sports Director Rodolfo Borrell. “He is an experienced professional with significant experience competing at elite level in Europe and is sure to strengthen our options at outside back.”
Dessler appeared in 103 games for Toulouse, scoring a total of three goals and providing nine assists. Before joining Toulouse, Dessler played for Odense BK in his native Denmark from 2014 to 2019 and for FK Haugesund in the Norwegian top league from 2019 to 2021, making over 300 appearances during his career to date. I did.
Desler will earn senior and international designation on the Austin FC roster. Dessler is the second player signed by Austin FC ahead of the summer transfer window, following Ghanaian winger Osman Bukhari. Both Desler and Bukari are eligible to compete in Austin starting July 18.
DEAL: Austin FC has signed free agent defenseman Mikkel Desler to a three-and-a-half-year guaranteed contract through the end of the 2027 season, with an additional option for 2028.
Player details:
Name: Mikel Dessler
Pronunciation: Mick-el dess-ler
Position: defender
Jersey Number: 3
Height: 6’0″
Date of birth: February 19, 1995
Age: 29
Place of birth: Assens, Denmark
Nationality: Danish
Last club: Toulouse FC
How to obtain: Signed as a free agent.
Roster Designations: Senior, International
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