2024 MLS DRAFT: St Louis selects midfielder Hosei Kijima of Wake Forest in the first round

City SC traded up in the MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, jumping from No. 50 to No. 17, and used that pick to draft Hosei Kijima, a midfielder from Wake Forest.

Kijima, 21, is from Japan — he watched the draft from there early on what for him was Wednesday morning — and will need an international spot on the City SC roster when he signs with the team. City SC acquired an extra international spot last week from Nashville.

City SC got the No. 17 spot in another trade with Nashville, sending it the No. 50 overall pick and $75,000 of 2024 general allocation money.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity,” Kijima said in an interview during Apple TV+ coverage of the draft. “The challenge starts now, and I can’t wait to start on a great journey.”

He’s already been on a great journey, coming to America from Yokohama, Japan, when he was 12 years old to attend the IMG Academy in Florida to further his soccer career. From there, he went to Wake Forest, starting classes when he was 17. He had nine goals and 10 assists in 63 games over four seasons at Wake Forest and was a second-team all-ACC selection as a senior.

He has one skill that is always appealing to City SC: versatility. Though he was a midfielder in college, he can also play as an outside back, on the left or the right.

“I think one of my main aspects, or a key, to my game is versatility,” Kijima said to Apple TV+. “I think I can play most of the positions on the field, and mentality-wise, I’ll do my best to perform no matter what position I’m playing. And as long as I’m on the field I’m doing my best to help the team win.”

City SC went through a series of left backs last season before settling on Anthony Markanich at the end of the season, and the right back spot rotated between veteran Jake Nerwinski and newcomer Akil Watts. Kijima, an eager student of the game who thrives on analyzing formations and tactics, would increase the team’s ability to use the changing formations coach Bradley Carnell loves to have his team utilize.

Kijima played last summer for the Sarasota Paradise in USL League Two and was selected to the all-league team at right back.