CITY SC also selects Joey Zalinsky in the second round and Colin Welsh in the third
St. Louis CITY SC selected three players in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, adding forward Emil Jääskeläinen from University of Akron in the first round (7th overall), right back Joey Zalinsky from Rutgers University in the second round (37th overall) and goalkeeper Colin Welsh from Western Michigan University in the third round (67th overall).
In the 2024 season, Jääskeläinen recorded a NCAA-best 23 goals and eight assists in 21 matches for University of Akron, marking the second-highest single-season goal tally in the university's history. Jääskeläinen was selected as the Unanimous BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, a First-Team All-BIG EAST selection, and is a finalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, with the winner being announced at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 3, 2025. Before joining Akron, Jääskeläinen scored 43 goals for Long Island University and was a four-time All-NEC selection, three-time All-Region honoree, and two-time NEC Player of the Year.
Zalinsky, a native of New Jersey, came through the New York Red Bulls academy pipeline. A member of the Red Bulls since 2016, Zalinsky debuted for the Red Bulls II squad in September 2020. In 59 appearances for Rutgers University, he scored two goals and recorded two assists.
Welsh, from Overland Park, Kansas, made 78 saves and posted a record of 11-3-6 for Western Michigan University this season, earning him MVC Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Before joining WMU, Welsh made 36 appearances for Memphis University.
