Alexandru Mățan, a 26-year-old Romanian footballer, has made his return to Major League Soccer (MLS) by signing with St. Louis City. Previously, he played for Panetolikos in Greece’s top league.
This marks Mățan’s second stint in American soccer, having previously played for the Columbus Crew. Although St. Louis City has yet to formally announce his signing, they teased his arrival with a mysterious video.
St. Louis City Reveals Mățan’s Return to MLS
The team shared a video showing a player walking onto their stadium, wearing the number 23 jersey. The simple caption featured the Romanian flag and the word “soon,” hinting at Mățan’s impending involvement.
Having developed at the Hagi Academy, Mățan began his senior career at Viitorul Constanța. After two years there, he was loaned to FC Voluntari before returning to Hagi’s team. He was then transferred to Columbus Crew for €1.5 million, where he remained until the winter of 2025. During his four years with Columbus, he also had a loan spell at Rapid. Additionally, he has played for Dibba Al-Hisn and Panetolikos.
Last season, Mățan played 40 matches for Panetolikos, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists. His market value is estimated at €1.8 million.
Mățan is an experienced player in MLS, with Columbus Crew being the team where he has played the most matches. Overall, he has participated in 93 MLS games, scoring 5 goals and assisting 11 times, accumulating a total of 117 appearances in all competitions for Columbus.
Currently, St. Louis City sits 10th in the Western Conference of MLS after 15 matches and is just three points shy of playoff contention. The Vancouver Whitecaps lead the conference with 32 points, and St. Louis City’s squad is valued at €29.25 million.
