Austin FC has announced an agreement to sign Danish defender Mikkel Desler. Desler joins Austin FC on a three-and-a-half-year guaranteed contract through the end of the 2027 season, with an additional option for 2028.
Desler will arrive in the United States pending receipt of his ITC and P-1 visa.
Desler is a free agent signing, having most recently played for Toulouse FC. In his first season with Toulouse in 2021/2022, he was named to the Ligue 2 Team of the Year while playing an instrumental role in helping the team win the Ligue 2 title and earn promotion to Ligue 1, the highest level of professional soccer in France.
The following season, Desler and Toulouse won the Coupe de France, the country’s most prestigious cup competition, and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
He went on to play seven of Toulouse’s eight Europa League matches in 2023/2024, scoring in a knockout round match vs. SL Benfica and playing all 90 minutes of the team’s 3-2 win over Liverpool FC.
In total, Desler registered three goals and nine assists in 103 appearances across all competitions for Toulouse.
Prior to joining Toulouse, Desler played for Odense BK in his native Denmark from 2014 to 2019, and FK Haugesund of the Norwegian topflight from 2019 to 2021, compiling over 300 appearances during his career to date.
Desler will occupy Senior and International designations on the Austin FC roster. Desler is the second player signed by Austin FC ahead of the summer transfer window, in addition to Ghanaian winger Osman Bukari.
Both Desler and Bukari will be eligible to compete for Austin beginning July 18.