Austin FC announced today that the Club selected midfielder Sofiane Djeffal with the first pick of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1. Austin acquired the first pick via a trade with D.C. United, in which D.C. received $50,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money and the 26th pick in the Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 from Austin.
Djeffal, a 23-year-old native of Nantes, France, will occupy Supplemental and International roster designations.
“We’re excited to welcome Sofiane to Austin,” said Austin FC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna. “He’s a promising young talent with a bright future, and we believe he’ll be a positive addition to our team and our locker room.”
Djeffal began his professional career with D.C. United in 2022, making 28 appearances (19 starts) in his rookie season. He registered 27 interceptions, eight (8) key passes, and one (1) assist.
Before joining D.C., Djeffal had a stellar collegiate career at Oregon State University, where he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team for four (4) consecutive years. He was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2018 as a freshman, and as a senior in 2021 was voted Pac-12 Player of the Year and named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist.
As a young player, Djeffal spent more than a decade in the academy system of his hometown club, FC Nantes of France’s Ligue 1.
Transaction: Austin FC selects midfielder Sofiane Djeffal with the first pick of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1. Austin acquired the pick via a trade with D.C. United, in which D.C. received $50,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money and the 26th pick in the Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 from Austin.
Player Details:
Name: Sofiane Djeffal
Pronunciation: So-fee-ahn JEFF-all
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’0”
Date of Birth: April 19, 1999
Age: 23
Born: Nantes, France
Nationality: French
Last club: D.C. United
How acquired: Selected with the first pick of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1.
Roster Designations: Supplemental, International
