Touched on it a while back in the Young Kiwis outside the UK thread, but it has now finally been confirmed that Troy Putt has joined Minnesota United 2 in the MLS Next Pro on a two year deal.
Welcome to the Twos, Troy!
The club has signed forward Troy Putt to a two-year MLS NEXT Pro contract through December 2026.
Mrs Mils, can probably give the low down, but seems he was mostly a bench player last season at an exciting Birkenhead. Behind the experienced Patterson & Bunch.
Does he now come into calculations for the NZ U20s, having got a pro contract?
The current attacking player options seem to be
Lachlan Candy (Nix), Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues (Nix), Luke Supyk (Nix), Stipe Ukich (Istra FC, Croatia), Nathan Walker (Nix), Luke Brooke-James (Nix), Adam Watson (Stoke City youth), Daniel Makowem (Weenix), Anaru Cassidy (Weenix), Keegan Kelly (US College), Ryan Watson (Weenix)
Mrs Mils, can probably give the low down, but seems he was mostly a bench player last season at an exciting Birkenhead. Behind the experienced Patterson & Bunch.
Does he now come into calculations for the NZ U20s, having got a pro contract?
The current attacking player options seem to be
Lachlan Candy (Nix), Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues (Nix), Luke Supyk (Nix), Stipe Ukich (Istra FC, Croatia), Nathan Walker (Nix), Luke Brooke-James (Nix), Adam Watson (Stoke City youth), Daniel Makowem (Weenix), Anaru Cassidy (Weenix), Keegan Kelly (US College), Ryan Watson (Weenix)
Debuted for Birkenhead at 16 towards the backend of 2023 in a game they played a lot of their youngsters - I caught that game and thought he stood out. The sort of low centre of gravity, confidence and willingness to go at and past players the main thing standing out to me; quite atypical for a 16-year-old New Zealand player.
I thought he could have been in a shout for the U17s that year, but maybe just missed out.
Didn't play massive minutes for Birkenhead last year, but Paul Hobson knows his stuff and manages players well. Putt played 1st XI football too, which is typically Friday night, and likely a factor he didn't play as many 1st team minutes. He was part of the Westlake team with Finn McKenlay (though a school year younger) that won all Auckland and National titles in 2023, and then both Auckland titles again in 2024.
If he hits the ground running in MLSNP no reason why he couldn't be in the U20s - but he would be eligible for the next tournament as well.
The club announced today that it has signed MNUFC2 forward Troy Putt to a Short-Term Agreement, making him available for selection during Saturday’s 2026 MLS Season Opener at Austin FC.
Congrats Putt. Came on as a right winger for Nec Triantis?, with Minny down 2-1, and they get 90th min equaliser for 2-2.
Full game for Boxy.
Big occasion for Birkenhead's finest in 19 yr old Putt. Seems he got his chance through injuries, but great sign that Knowles trusted him enough to play at this level.
A Kiwi debuting in the MLS is great. But the likes of Noal Billingsley (playing Northern League?), James Musa, Elliot Collier have all had time in the MLS in recent years. Lachlan Brook is back in the ALM.
Good luck to Putt, but it wouldn't surprise, if in reality he spends most in 2026 in development comp MLS Next Pro.
A new season of Major League Soccer is upon us and not only does that mean one more year of Michael Boxall excellence (he’s into the last year of his contract so it’s possible he may hang ‘em up after 2026... although on form and fitness he could probably play into his 40s so who knows?), it also means we’ve entered the Cam Knowles Head Coach era at Minnesota United. NZ’s own Knowles was elevated from assistant coach when Eric Ramsay left for the West Brom job in England (where he now has an 0-3-5 record after eight games, yikes), having served as interim for a few games two years ago. Knowles has worked a long time in the background at Portland and then Minnesota in order to earn this gig. Massive opportunity.
That gives Minnesota United a kiwi coach and a kiwi captain. They weren’t able to sign Callum McCowatt like they tried during January (although after a 4-0 Silkeborg loss to Midtjylland this week, McCowatt might be wishing they had) but Coach Knowles had another one up his sleeve: on the day of the game, the Loons announced a short-term loan deal for NZ U20s representative Troy Putt from the club’s Next Pro squad. Putt joined that team a year ago and has made 18 appearances (11 starts) with three assists. Usually an attacking player for Birkenhead United and the NZ U20s but he mostly played as a right-sided defender for Loons 2. He got a few chances during preseason and seems to have impressed everyone with his efforts – including winning the team’s preseason beep test.
Cam Knowles: “[Putt’s] effort, his work rate has been exceptional. He has trained with a relentless work ethic [throughout preseason]. When we were looking at it in the balance of the squad and what we might need, he’s a good young player. He has real elite, top-end pace. He has elite ability to work and cover ground.”