Luke Hille’s road to recovery after a breakout start

Luke Hille arrived in Minnesota in March 2025, signing a one-year MLS NEXT Pro contract with MNUFC2. The forward from Cary, North Carolina, joined the club after a successful collegiate career, spending three years at NC State before playing his senior season at the University of North Carolina.

Hille wasted no time making an impact. By August of his debut professional season, he was leading MNUFC2 in scoring with nine goals across 17 games. He also etched his name into the MNUFC2 record books, scoring both the quickest goal in club history in the second minute of a match, as well as the latest goal with a stoppage-time equalizer in the 97th minute against Houston Dynamo 2.

His phenomenal form with the reserve squad quickly caught the attention of the first team. Hille earned multiple short-term agreements with Minnesota United throughout the summer of 2025. He made his first-team debut in the U.S. Open Cup against Louisville City FC, played in a July friendly against Holstein Kiel, and officially made his MLS regular-season debut as a substitute against St. Louis CITY SC on July 26, 2025.

The injury that paused everything

Unfortunately, Hille’s impressive rookie campaign was cut short late in the summer. During an Aug. 15 match against Tacoma Defiance, Hille suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. The club officially announced that he underwent a season-ending surgical repair on Aug. 29, 2025. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the 2025 season, right as MNUFC2 was gearing up for a deep run in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.

What he’s doing now

Hille’s initial contract with MNUFC2 expired at the end of December 2025. As of January 2026, he is currently a free agent. Because ACL recoveries typically take several months of intensive physical therapy, Hille is likely focusing entirely on his rehabilitation right now. Once he is fully healthy and cleared to return to the pitch, the 23-year-old striker will be looking for a new club to pick up right where his promising 2025 season left off.