Player signings

THE BIRDMAN RETURNS!

The wild winger returns to the murder from @IUMensSoccer for 2017.

Welcome back @IsaacFriendt pic.twitter.com/VasSdCHxee

— Minneapolis City SC (@mplscitysc) January 23, 2017

Minneapolis City announced the return of winger Isaac Friendt. The Andover, Minn. native will suit up for the Crows for a second summer. During the school year, Friendt plays at the University of Indiana, and this past season was a teammate of Minnesota United’s fourth-round draft pick, Tanner Thompson.

Hello, my name is Ibson…#MNUFC adds Brazilian midfielder Ibson to 2017 @MLS roster.

Press Release » https://t.co/0qdaGl0ACr pic.twitter.com/VEF5veDc5i

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 23, 2017

Ibson and Brent Kallman will be making the jump from the NASL to MLS with the Loons. They are the fourth and fifth players to be signed from Minnesota’s 2016 roster, joining Christian Ramirez, Justin Davis, and Kevin Venegas. More on the signings here.

Christian Pulisic verlängert bis zum 30. Juni 2020⚠️ // Christian Pulisic has extended his contract until 30 June 2020. ???? #22until2020 #bvb pic.twitter.com/YuyHYb7ptE

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 23, 2017

American winger Christian Pulisic has signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund. The 18-year-old’s new contract runs through 2020, much to the chagrin of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who had hoped to sign the starlet in the current transfer window.

Go west young men

Next stop: 'Zona ????#MNUFC pic.twitter.com/JaXlmMogQ2

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 23, 2017

The Loons flew to Arizona, marking the start of their first MLS preseason. Loons on a plane mean only one thing, the return of sleep-cam.

#sleepcam @abudanladi9 welcome! ???? pic.twitter.com/BpiHKcOc38

— Christian Ramirez (@Chris_Ramirez17) January 23, 2017

Not even the rookies are safe.

CONCACAF Champions League

CONCACAF has announced the largest international club competition format in its history. Thirty-one clubs will play in two different tournaments in 2017/18. The two tournaments are two new phases to the CONCACAF Champions League. The first phase will feature 13 clubs from Central America and three from the Caribbean. The winner of the first phase will move on to phase two with clubs from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the champions of the Central American Leagues. Phase one will start in August 2017 and run until October 2017. Phase two will start in February 2018 and run until May 2018.

News bits

• Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press sat down with Adrian Heath for one last chat before preseason started.
• Columbia graduate Andrew Tinari joined Minnesota United on trial for the preseason.
•  We might see Jeb(!) Brovsky back in a Minnesota United kit after all.
  

  haven't published it yet, but Adrian Heath said they plan to give Jeb Brovsky a shot when he's healthy.

  — Andy Greder (@andygreder) January 24, 2017