Houston Dynamo FC claimed defender Chase Gasper off waivers, the team announced today.
Gasper was drafted by Minnesota United FC with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. As a rookie, the left back made his debut in June 2019 and would finish with 14 starts, solidifying a spot in the backline for the next two seasons with the Loons. The Alexandria, Virginia native also led the team to three consecutive appearances in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and tallied five appearances in the postseason.
The 27-year-old was most recently with the LA Galaxy after the team traded $450,000 in General Allocation Money and additional performance-based considerations to Minnesota on May 4, 2022. Gasper would finish with 17 appearances and eight starts during the 2022 season with the Galaxy. The defender has 80 league appearances and 68 starts in MLS regular season play and has scored two goals.
The defender played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles from 2014-2016 and transferred to the University of Maryland for his junior and senior season. Gasper was a member of the 2018 NCAA championship team and helped the Terps tally 13 shutouts prior to an injury.
Gasper was a consistent member of the U-18 and U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team from 2013-2014. He earned his first senior cap on Feb. 1, 2020, in a friendly against Costa Rica in Southern California.
The defender is the 15th player added to the Dynamo roster for the 2023 season. He also continues the club’s roster-building strategy of recruiting players and staff with a history of winning, as he is the ninth player to join the club for the 2023 season who has won a senior professional or collegiate championship.
