Story by
Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Why Dominik Fitz has yet to make an impact for Minnesota United
- Story byPioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
- Why Dominik Fitz has yet to make an impact for Minnesota United
In late March, Minnesota United attacking midfielder Dominik Fitz outlined his objectives for the still-young 2026 season.
"My goal is to get some minutes and to be back in the squad for the next games," he told the Pioneer Press.
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Fast forward five weeks and the 26-year-old Austrian has still not played a single minute for the club in MLS nor U.S. Open Cup action. Minnesota has played 13 total matches so far this year.
Fitz missing in action is far from the return expected for one of the Loons' highest-paid players — with a guaranteed compensation of $853,000, per last year's data from the MLS Players Association.
Fitz was sidelined most of preseason and the first three league games due to an undisclosed "medical condition" and a hamstring issue. His fitness improved and he was on the bench against L.A. Galaxy on April 4. He played for MNUFC2 on March 15 but was sidelined two more matches due to illness in mid-April.
In another comeback stint with the Loons' developmental team, he scored a goal on April 26 and was then on the bench in MLS for last weekend's 3-2 win against Columbus. That's as close as he's gotten to the field for the first team this season.
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"It is unfortunate that Fitz hasn't (played)," Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad said Tuesday. "It's almost like one thing after the other."
In a roughly $2 million transfer of Austria Wien last August, Fitz signed a 4 1/2-year contract through 2029, with a club option for 2030. There is still time for him to make an impact, but all he has to show for his time in Minnesota so far is no goal contributions in 151 minutes across five matches last season.
Fitz had been with Austria Wien in Austria's Bundesliga his entire career, so he acknowledged a need to adjust to a foreign country and new league.
"It was tough at the beginning because it was far, far away from home and to live completely alone without family," Fitz said in March, adding he especially misses social events with friends and family. "I think it takes like two, three months, but this year I feel more comfortable here. I know what's going on here and it's a little bit (easier) now."
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Former Loons coach Eric Ramsay did not appear to rate Fitz, hence the lack of playing time late in 2025, while new coach Cameron Knowles seems to express more understanding.
"For him to go and get those minutes with the second team was good, just to log time in an 11 v. 11 (game), where he just hasn't had it," Knowles said in March. "Our training schedule really hasn't allowed for him to get that exposure. He's been working really hard every day."
Fitz also has some stiff competition in the attacking midfield. New signing Tomás Chancalay has four goal contributions, the same amount as veteran Joaquín Pereyra. And Colombian superstar James Rodriguez has often been the first like-for-like sub to come off the bench, but he is unlikely to return to MNUFC after the FIFA World Cup, which could create an opening for Fitz.
"We still really like (Fitz) as a player," El-Ahmad said. "We take it week by week. There's also the side … we sign to certain expectations, but the team evolves and grows and now you have to break into the squad. And the squad is strong."
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Another matter is playing style. The 5-foot-8, 148-pound player has had to adjust to what is widely considered a more physical league compared to some other competitions in Europe.
El-Ahmad addressed Fitz in the context of other players who have not worked out across his four-plus transfer windows in Minnesota, including center back Victor Eriksson and midfielders Matus Kmet and Hoyeon Jung.
"We don't sign bad players," El-Ahmad said this week. "I say that to our staff and recruitment (team), our owners, all the time: We don't sign bad players.
"What I do think is sometimes you can sign players, where maybe acclimation isn't great, unfortunate circumstances of injuries, home sickness. It could be that just the timing."
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El-Ahmad singled out Eriksson, who signed a three-year deal in January 2024 but played only four matches for the Loons within months before being sent back to Sweden with the club Hammarby.
"He is the best center back in Sweden, called up to the Swedish national team (with) offers for 3-4 million (Euros) from ( Italy 's) Serie A that Hammarby says no to," El-Ahmad said.
El-Ahmad also paired Fitz and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, who El-Ahmad signed from Austria Wien to New York City in 2018. Tajouri-Sharadi had 31 goal contributions in 84 matches for NYCFC before brief stints with LAFC and MNUFC.
"Same level, same type of player," El-Ahmad said. "But, yeah, still happy with Fitz. (It's) unfortunate and we'll see what happens with the summer — but that goes for all players."
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