Rasmus Alm, the ӣƵ City SC midfielder who has battled injuries for the past two seasons but was a dangerous attacking player when he was healthy, will be shut down for the remainder of the season.
The club, which had seven players, including Alm, listed as out on last week’s injury report and has been plagued by injuries throughout this season, placed Alm on the season-ending injury list on Monday, bringing an end to his season. The club listed the causes as osteitis pubis (inflammation of the pelvic bone), sports hernia injuries and adductor strains.
The move opens up a roster spot, which City SC can put to use as the summer transfer window opens up on July 24. It also puts into question Alm’s future with the team. His contract ends after this season, with the team holding an option for next season.
Alm appeared in just one MLS game this season, coming off the bench to play seven minutes against Minnesota on May 17. He also appeared in one game with City2, coming off the bench and playing 20 minutes in a game at home against Portland Timbers 2. (That game is best remembered for Mykhi Joyner scoring four goals.)
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But those games, rather than being steps in Alm’s return to play, were the end of the line. He did not suit up for the team again this season.
Alm has five goals and two assists in 42 games with the team over its three seasons, but injuries have been a constant for Alm. A knee injury cost him games in City SC’s first season, and then he missed the final seven games of the season with a groin injury, which required offseason surgery for a sports hernia. His rehab from that kept him out of the first four games of 2024, and then, after returning to the lineup, he suffered a sprained MCL in a game with Miami that he said later left him in tears. He missed 15 games before returning and playing the final eight games of the season.
The team clearly envisioned a return to form for Alm, making him one of the 12 players they projected in the expansion draft. A hip injury caused him to miss training camp, but while he always felt a return was near, he could never get over the line.
Last week, interim coach David Critchley said that Alm would be out “for the foreseeable future.” Asked if that meant he could be back some this season, Critchley said, “One hopes. Raz shows up at the facility every day and he tries to get some work in. But he’s coming in some pain. I can’t see him in the next few games where Raz might feature in the team. There’s always hope, as always, but I don’t know what the timeline is.”
“Rasmus has shown incredible determination and professionalism while battling this injury since our inaugural season, which makes this even more heartbreaking,” said sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel in a statement from the club. “But after talking with our medical staff, and understanding the time needed for a full recovery, it makes sense for both him and the club to allow Rasmus to focus entirely on his recovery.”
Alm, a speedy winger who caused trouble on the right flank, was more closely correlated with wins than anyone on the team. City SC was 19-12-10 in games with Alm on the field in its first two seasons, 6-13-8 without him. Whether through impact or good timing on missing games, City SC was 13-6-2 in games Alm played in the inaugural season, 8-3-2 when he started.
It’s been a tough season for City SC’s Swedish contingent. Alm has played in one game; center back Joakim Nilsson, who has been troubled by a knee injury suffered while playing for the Swedish national team before arriving in ӣƵ, has appeared in just six games, starting only two; and coach Olof Mellberg was fired 15 games into his run with the team.
ӣƵ City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and co-host Beth O'Malley talk about the team's winless streak hitting four games with a 1-0 loss to Houston that was devoid of much offense, but saw the team allow only one goal with a very makeshift lineup. But one goal allowed was one too many.
