Football: Another All White gains MLS contract

Michael Boxall. Photosport

Michael Boxall's varied club career has taken another twist, with the All Whites defender believed to have inked a deal with Minnesota United in the MLS.

According to North American reports, the 28-year-old is set to be confirmed as the Minnesota's latest signing.

Boxall, who featured in all three games for the All Whites at the Confederations Cup, has spent the last two years in the South Africa Premier League, playing alongside Jeremy Brockie at Super Sport United.

But the African club announced last week that they had failed to agree terms with the player on an amended long term deal, leaving Boxall as a free agent.

Boxall has previous MLS experience, having played 21 games for the Vancouver Whitecaps between 2011 and 2012, and the physical, athletic league will suit the pacy defender.

His latest move continues an ocean-hopping career. After coming through the grades at Three Kings United, Central United and Auckland City, Boxall gained a football scholarship at the University of Santa Barbara in 2007.

Following four years in Southern California, Boxall joined the Whitecaps in 2011 before returning to New Zealand to play for the Wellington Phoenix at the start of the 2012-2013 A League season. Boxall played 39 games in three seasons in the capital but failed to fully cement his first team position, as he was often shuffled across the backline.

Boxall will join four other Kiwis in the MLS, with Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes FC), Deklan Wynne and Myer Bevan (both Vancouver Whitecaps).

Minnesota, coached by former Everton striker Adrian Heath, currently sit bottom of the tightly contested western conference of the MLS, but are only six points off a place in the knockout rounds.