INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Monday it had acquired defender Joey Zalinsky on loan from St. Louis CITY SC of Major League Soccer for the remainder of the 2025 USL Championship season. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed, and the transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 22-year-old Zalinsky made nine appearances in the MLS this season, including his debut against Sporting Kansas City on May 14. The 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick made his first MLS start against San Jose Earthquakes in CITY SC’s 2-1 win on May 31.

Zalinsky scored in his professional debut in St. Louis’ 2-0 U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 win over Union Omaha on May 7. In the 68th minute, Zalinsky rocketed a spectacular volley from outside the box to the bottom left corner for the game-winning goal.  

Zalinsky also made 11 appearances for the club’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team CITY2.

The Brick Township, N.J., native was selected in the Second Round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft (No. 37 overall) following his collegiate career at Rutgers. A two-year captain, Zalinsky led the Scarlet Knights back line throughout his four-year career (2021-24). In 59 appearances, he scored two goals and added two assists, consistently shutting down the opposition's biggest threats and being one of the top defenders in the Big Ten.

The 5-foot-10 Zalinsky came up through the New York Red Bulls Academy pipeline. A member of the Red Bulls from 2016-21, Zalinsky debuted for the Red Bulls II squad in the USL Championship in September 2020, making 17 appearances as a 17-year-old.

Zalinsky played 20 USL Championship games for Red Bulls II, starting 19 and logging 1,714 minutes. He recorded 73 clearances, 51 interceptions, 11 blocks, 36 tackles won, 33 fouls won, 128 duels won, and 37 aerial duels won.