Loïc Mesanvi signs with Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven has officially announced the signing of former Minnesota United FC forward Loïc Mesanvi, pending league and federation approval.

The 22-year-old attacker joins the USL Championship club following a successful stint developing within the Minnesota United system. Mesanvi made eight appearances for the Loons’ first team in Major League Soccer across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He made his MLS debut in the 2024 season opener, helping secure a 2-1 victory over Austin FC, and later made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut against the LA Galaxy. He also featured in Leagues Cup group stage action.

While he earned first-team minutes, Mesanvi was a primary fixture for MNUFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro. After signing his professional contract in November 2022, he went on to play 55 games for the reserve squad, recording nine goals and five assists in nearly 3,500 minutes of action. During the 2025 campaign, he scored four goals in 19 matches and played a key role in helping MNUFC2 reach the Western Conference Final in the team’s first-ever playoff appearance.

Mesanvi won’t be the only one representing Minnesota United’s past in Indianapolis. He joins a growing contingent of former Loons at Indy Eleven, led by head coach Sean McAuley, who served as an assistant and interim head coach in Minnesota from 2020 to early 2024. The roster also features veteran midfielder Jack Blake, who played for Minnesota during its NASL era in 2016, and goalkeeper Eric Dick, who spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons within the Loons’ system.  

Mesanvi’s journey to the professional ranks has been a unique one. Born in Togo, he left his home country at age 13 to join an academy in Ghana before his family eventually emigrated to Minnesota in 2018. Before joining the MNUFC Academy’s U19 side, he spent time with Minneapolis City SC and was named a Minnesota Mr. Soccer Finalist in 2021 during his high school career.

With his transfer to Indianapolis, Mesanvi becomes the first player from Togo in Indy Eleven history. He joins a forward group preparing for the upcoming USL Championship season, with the club’s home opener scheduled for March 21 at Carroll Stadium against Detroit City FC.