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Dayne St. Clair

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Dayne St. Clair
St. Clair with Canada in 2026
Personal information
Full name Dayne Tristan St. Clair[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-09) May 9, 1997 (age 29)
Place of birth Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Inter Miami
Number 97
Youth career
North Scarborough SC
Pickering SC
Ajax SC
2014 Vaughan Azzurri
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Maryland Terrapins 43 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Vaughan Azzurri
2016–2017 K–W United 13 (0)
2018 New York Red Bulls U23 3 (0)
2019–2025 Minnesota United 135 (0)
2019 → Forward Madison (loan) 5 (0)
2020 → San Antonio FC (loan) 5 (0)
2026– Inter Miami 21 (0)
International career‡
2021– Canada 21 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up2023
Third place2025
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 20, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of September 26, 2026

Dayne Tristan St. Clair (born May 9, 1997) is a Canadian professional soccer player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Canada national team.

Prior to playing for Inter Miami, St. Clair was the goalkeeper for Minnesota United for seven years. Before playing with Minnesota United, he was a two-year starter for the Maryland Terrapins men's soccer program. With Maryland, he was the starting goalkeeper for their national championship run, where he earned the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the best defensive soccer player in the national tournament.

Prior to playing college soccer for the University of Maryland, St. Clair played youth soccer for the Vaughan Azzurri and helped the Azzurri win a League1 Ontario cup title.

Early life

[edit]

St. Clair was born in Pickering, Ontario, to a Trinidadian father and a Scottish Canadian mother.[3] He grew up in Scarborough, where a soccer ball was his favourite toy and he would juggle a balloon for long periods when he could not play with a ball indoors.[4] As a child he was often photographed wearing Celtic jerseys, reflecting his mother's Scottish background, and he spent weekends watching his father Fabian play as a goalkeeper in local Sunday leagues before joining other children on the pitch at half-time and after matches.[4]

He began playing soccer at age three with the Epiphany Church Soccer League before joining North Scarborough SC at age four.[5] St. Clair played primarily as a central defender in his early youth career and spent time with Pickering SC, Ajax SC, and the Vaughan Azzurri.[6][7] He has said that he often volunteered to play in goal when his team's regular goalkeeper was unavailable, preferring to go in net rather than sit on the bench, and that after being selected as a goalkeeper for the provincial team and encouraged by coach Gerald Pennant, who had worked with the Jamaican national team, he committed to the position full-time and began focusing more on his positioning and angles to complement his athleticism.[4]

College career

[edit]

Entering the 2015 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, St. Clair was redshirted. During his redshirt freshman year in 2016, he served as a backup to Cody Niedermeier and briefly considered transferring after not playing regularly in his first year.[4] Entering the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, St. Clair became the regular starter for Maryland, making his first college soccer start for the Terrapins on August 25, 2017, in a 4–2 win against Santa Clara.[8] In his final season, he helped Maryland win the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, keeping five consecutive clean sheets in the competition, and was named the defensive Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.[4][9] St. Clair finished his Maryland career making a total of 43 appearances for the program.[10]

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

St. Clair played primarily as a central defender through his early teens, but volunteered to fill in as goalkeeper for Pickering Soccer Club whenever the team's regular goalkeeper missed games due to hockey tournaments, later saying "I'd rather go in net than sit on the bench".[4] He initially split time between goalkeeping and playing outfield before moving into goal full-time at age 14.[4] St. Clair played for League1 Ontario club Vaughan Azzurri in 2014 and 2015, helping the club win the inaugural 2014 League1 Ontario Cup, and developed a lasting mentorship with Vaughan Azzurri coach Patrice Gheisar.[11][4] During the 2016 and 2017 PDL seasons, St. Clair made thirteen appearances with K–W United FC.[12] During the 2018 PDL season, St. Clair made three appearances for the New York Red Bulls under-23 team.[13]

Minnesota United

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St. Clair with Minnesota United in 2025

On January 4, 2019, ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, St. Clair signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, forgoing his final season of eligibility.[14] On January 11, 2019, St. Clair was drafted seventh overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC, the highest a goalkeeper had been selected since Toronto FC took Alex Bono sixth overall in 2015.[15][16][4] St. Clair said of getting drafted, "I wanted to make a statement to the person I am, the player I am. This is my statement."[17] In his rookie season, St. Clair was behind starter Vito Mannone and did not make a first-team appearance.[4] In April 2019, St. Clair was loaned out to Minnesota's USL affiliate club, Forward Madison FC.[18] He made his league debut for the club on April 6, 2019, playing all ninety minutes in a 1–0 defeat to Chattanooga Red Wolves.[19]

In February 2020, it was announced that Minnesota had loaned St. Clair out once again, this time to USL Championship side San Antonio FC.[20] On August 15, 2020, San Antonio announced that St. Clair had been recalled by Minnesota after an injury to Tyler Miller opened a path to his MLS debut,[21][4] where he played the last 13 games of the regular season and three 2020 MLS Cup Playoff games, conceding just 15 goals and with eight clean sheets.[22] After Minnesota United started the 2021 season 0–4, St. Clair lost his starting spot and did not make another start that year.[4] Upon conclusion of the 2021 season, St. Clair signed a three-year extension with Minnesota United through the end of the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025.[23] Heading into the 2022 season, and with limited playing time, St. Clair requested a trade from Minnesota; he has said he was close to a move before an injury to starter Tyler Miller gave him an opportunity, which he seized with an eight-save performance in a 1–0 win over the New York Red Bulls.[4] St. Clair went on to become Minnesota's starting goalkeeper, making the 2022 MLS All-Star Game, earning a second All-Star selection in 2025, and winning the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2025.[24]

Inter Miami

[edit]

On January 4, 2026, St. Clair signed with Inter Miami through the 2026 season with a club option for another year.[25]

International career

[edit]

St. Clair was named to the Canada U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[26] He accepted an invite for the Canada senior national team camp for January 2021.[27] He made his debut for the senior team on June 5, 2021, playing the whole game in a 7–0 FIFA World Cup qualification victory over Aruba at an empty IMG Academy stadium in Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic; St. Clair later said that despite barely touching the ball, he felt he had helped Canada move toward qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.[28][4] On July 1 St. Clair was named to the Canada squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[29] During this period, St. Clair competed with Maxime Crépeau for the backup role behind starter Milan Borjan, with St. Clair later noting he believed Crépeau, who had been with the program since 2016, initially expected to be the natural successor.[4]

In November 2022 St. Clair was named to Canada's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after Crépeau suffered a broken leg and was sent off during LAFC's MLS Cup Final loss to the Philadelphia Union just weeks before the tournament, ending Crépeau's own World Cup hopes; St. Clair has said he felt for Crépeau, who "worked so hard" and "deserved to be there".[30][4] St. Clair served as backup to Borjan for all three of Canada's matches at the tournament.[4]

In June 2023, St. Clair was called up to the 23-man squad contesting the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[31] On June 19 he was named to the 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[32] Following a quarter-final exit to Jamaica at the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League in November 2023, Borjan and several other veteran players were phased out of the national team.[4]

Following the hiring of Jesse Marsch as Canada's head coach on May 23, 2024, St. Clair started Marsch's first match in charge against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on June 6, 2024, a match in which Canada conceded four goals within a 15-minute span in the second half.[4] Crépeau started Canada's following match, a scoreless draw against France, and went on to start for Canada at the 2024 Copa América; St. Clair did not see action at the tournament until starting the third-place match against Uruguay, a game Canada lost on penalties, though St. Clair was named to Canada's squad for the tournament.[33][4] Since the 2024 Copa América, St. Clair has started 12 of Canada's 19 matches through mid-2026, recording seven clean sheets, including victories over Mexico and Wales.[4]

St. Clair started for Canada at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, including the team's quarter-final loss to Guatemala on penalties following a 1–0 lead conceded down to ten men.[4] Following criticism after the loss, Marsch defended St. Clair at a September 2025 press conference ahead of a friendly against Wales, saying he had "been outstanding for the national team" since taking charge; St. Clair started the subsequent 1–0 win over Wales in Swansea.[4] St. Clair and Crépeau have continued to compete for the Canada starting goalkeeper role heading into 2026, with Marsch describing the decision as one of the most difficult he faces ahead of the tournament.[4]

On May 28, 2026, St. Clair was selected for Canada's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[34]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]
As of match played September 20, 2026[35][13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
K–W United 2016 PDL 6000———60
2017 7000———70
Total 13000000000130
New York Red Bulls U-23 2018 PDL 3000———30
Minnesota United 2020 MLS 13030——00160
2021 4010———50
2022 3201000——330
2023 3000000—5[a]0350
2024 26030——2[a]0310
2025 3004020003[a]0390
Total 135012020001001590
Forward Madison (loan) 2019 USL League One 500000——50
San Antonio (loan) 2020 USL Championship 5000———50
Inter Miami 2026 MLS 21000—2[b]01[c]0240
Career total 182012020201102090
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in Leagues Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in Campeones Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played September 26, 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 202110
202210
202320
202450
202590
202630
Total210

Honours

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Vaughan Azzurri

Maryland Terrapins

Inter Miami

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Canada (CAN)" (PDF). FIFA. November 15, 2022. p. 6. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Dayne St. Clair". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Goalie with Trinidad and Tobago roots in Canada World Cup squad". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. November 18, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Tierney, Mitchell (2025). "BELIEF". DARBY. No. 5. DARBY Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ Dayne St. Clair at Canada Soccer
  6. ↑ "Canada Soccer announces squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". Canadian Soccer Association. November 12, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ Davidson, Neil (September 29, 2020). "Canadian 'keeper Dayne St. Clair makes most of MLS opportunity with Minnesota". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  8. ↑ "2017 Men's Soccer Cumulative Statistics: Game-by-Game". umterps.com. University of Maryland Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  9. ↑ Bryant, Victor (December 10, 2018). "Maryland wins its fourth men's soccer national championship by beating Akron, 1-0, on second-half penalty kick". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "2018 Men's Soccer Cumulative Statistics". umterps.com. University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Success Stories Keep Coming for League1 Ontario". Ontario Soccer Association. February 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Dayne St Clair - Game Log - Goalkeeper". K–W United FC. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  13. 1 2 USL League Two. "Dayne St Clair profile".
  14. ↑ Rodriguez, Alicia (January 4, 2019). "MLS announces 2019 Generation adidas class ahead of Combine". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  15. ↑ Zgoda, Jerry (January 12, 2019). "Minnesota United takes Maryland teammates Dayne St. Clair, Chase Gasper with SuperDraft picks". Star Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  16. ↑ Greder, Andy (January 11, 2019). "Minnesota United picks goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in MLS SuperDraft". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Digital First Media. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Minnesota United takes Maryland teammates Dayne St. Clair, Chase Gasper with SuperDraft picks". Star Tribune. January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019. I wanted to make a statement to the person I am, the player I am," the 21-year-old St. Clair said. "This is my statement."
  18. ↑ "Four Minnesota United players loaned to Madison affiliate". twincities.com. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Chattanooga Red Wolves vs. Forward Madison – 6 April 2019 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  20. ↑ "SAN ANTONIO FC ADDS GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR ON LOAN FROM MINNESOTA UNITED". SanAntonioFC.com. February 12, 2020. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  21. ↑ @SanAntonioFC (August 15, 2020). "Roster Update: SAFC today announced..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ↑ Attfield, Paul (May 3, 2021). "Dayne St. Clair standing tall despite Minnesota's early season struggles". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. B10. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Dayne St. Clair Signs New Contract". Minnesota United FC. November 30, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "2025 MLS Best XI". Major League Soccer. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ Becherano, Lizzy (January 4, 2026). "Inter Miami signs Canada GK Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  27. ↑ Davidson, Neil (December 23, 2020). "TFC's Ayo Akinola accepts invite to Canadian national team camp". CBC.
  28. ↑ "Canada beats Aruba, sets up crucial World Cup qualifier against Suriname - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  29. ↑ "CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2021 CONCACAF GOLD CUP ROSTER". July 1, 2021.
  30. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 13, 2022). "Canada announces 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar". Canadian Premier League.
  31. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (June 7, 2023). "Former CPLers Loturi, Zator called up by Canada for 2023 Concacaf Nations League Finals". Canadian Premier League.
  32. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (June 19, 2023). "CanMNT announces final 23-man squad for Concacaf Gold Cup". Canadian Premier League.
  33. ↑ "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Davies spearheads Canada squad". May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Dayne St Clair profile". Soccerway.
  36. ↑ Ruderman, Justin (September 16, 2026). "CHAMPIONS! Inter Miami win 2026 Campeones Cup over Cruz Azul". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  37. ↑ Bryant, Victor (December 10, 2018). "Maryland wins its fourth men's soccer national championship by beating Akron, 1-0, on second-half penalty kick". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
[edit]
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