INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Friday the club had acquired goalkeeper Hunter Sulte on loan from Portland Timbers FC of Major League Soccer. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed, and the transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Sulte was signed as a Homegrown Player for Portland in November 2020, making him the first player from Alaska to sign an MLS Homegrown contract. A native of Anchorage, Sulte made his first MLS appearance in 2021, playing in two matches including a start against FC Dallas on May 1. His debut made him the second-youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to play in a league match at 19 years and six days.

The 6-foot-7 shot-stopper made eight appearances for the Portland Timbers 2 during the 2020 USL Championship season, tallying 31 saves. More recently, he has competed for T2 after the club’s move to MLS NEXT Pro and recorded 42 saves in 11 appearances during the 2023 season. Sulte had previously joined the Timbers Academy in 2016.

Analysis

Similar to the prior loan moves this offseason of Damian Las to Louisville City FC and Antonio Carrera to North Carolina FC, Hunter Sulte arrives at Indy Eleven with the opportunity for a step up in competition as the Timbers reshuffled their goalkeeping corps for the new season. At 6-foot-7 and 194 pounds, the 21-year-old has shown the tools to be a starter in Portland in the future, but now will be looking to get consistent minutes for an Indy side that has high expectations for this campaign.

Reuniting with new Indy Head Coach Sean McAuley, who knew Sulte as an Academy prospect when he was an assistant coach with the Timbers from 2012-18, should allow him to settle in more quickly. After Yannick Oettl’s solid 2023 campaign, however, there figures to be a battle for the starting position in the coming weeks as preseason camp accelerates.