By The Canadian Press

Canadian defender Nikola Markovic taken first overall in MLS SuperDraft

Dec 18, 2025 | 11:11 AM

A roller-coaster week ended on a high note for Canadian defender Nikola Markovic on Thursday when he went first overall in the MLS SuperDraft to D.C. United.

The imposing North Carolina State centre back endured a 3-2 loss in extra time to the University of Washington in Monday’s College Cup championship game in Cary, N.C., on Monday. But D.C. United’s draft decision wiped that emotion away.

“Man, I still have trouble explaining (it),” Markovic said with a laugh. “The word that keeps coming back to my mind is unreal — the emotions I’ve felt the past week.”

The 21-year-old sophomore from Gatineau, Que., joins Cyle Larin as the only Canadians to go No. 1 in the MLS draft. Larin went first overall in 2015, going on to become MLS Rookie of the Year with Orlando City before taking his talents to Europe.

Erkut Sogut, D.C. United’s managing director of soccer operation, said the club liked what it saw in the six-foot-four 205-pound Markovic on and off the field

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“We really went deep in making this decision.” he said. “It was very important to bring into this culture of D.C. United a player with that winning mentality and he brings that. He is a Canadian-Serbian. I think he’s a warrior-type player and that’s what we like. We want that mentality here.”

Sogut also believes Markovic can play a first-team role right away.

Markovic can’t wait.

“Growing up if you told me I would have the chance to play in the same league as (Lionel) Messi, I don’t know if I would believe you,” he said.

D.C. United hosts Messi and Inter Miami on March 7 at M&T Bank Stadium, the 71,000-capacity home of the NFL Baltimore Ravens.

D.C. United needs help everywhere after finishing bottom of the 30-team league at 5-18-11, 40 points below league-leading Philadelphia. It tied for 28th worst on defence, conceding 1.94 goals a game on average.

Markovic, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, was one of four underclassmen to sign Generation Adidas contracts with the league, adding to their desirability given that such deals do not count against a team’s salary cap budget.

FC Dallas has the second and third picks, taking forwards Ricky Louis and Nicholas Simmonds from Georgia Southern and Virginia, respectively. Both were Generation Adidas players.

After trading Canadian international winger Jayden Nelson to Austin FC for US$1.25 million in general allocation money and Austin’s first-round pick, the Vancouver Whitecaps took University of Washington midfielder Zach Ramsey 17th overall.

Canadian fullback Nikos Clarke-Tosczak went 19th overall to Sporting Kansas City.

Clarke-Tosczak, a left back from Edmonton, earned all-WCC honourable mention as a junior at the University of Portland. He logged a team-high 1,643 minutes for a Portland defence that allowed just 12 goals all season.

Clarke-Tosczak was with the Vancouver Whitecaps academy from 2020 to ’23, spending the next two years with the Rhode Island Rams in the Atlantic 10 conference before moving to the Pacific Northwest.

Vancouver used its own first-round pick to take High Point forward Daniel Lugo 29th overall. After transferring to High Point from North Carolina, Lugo started 19 of 20 games this season while scoring 14 goals — including seven game-winners. He was a United Soccer Coaches third-team all American.

Lugo was also named Big South Offensive Player of the Year, Big South Newcomer of the Year and Big South Tournament MVP. The Florida native was also named to the Big South First Team.

Toronto FC and CF Montreal did not have first-round selections.

Toronto sent its first-round pick to Colorado in January in order to add Neil Emblen and Jase Kim to Robin Fraser’s coaching staff.

Montreal traded its first-round pick as well as Toronto’s third-round pick to Dallas on Dec. 9 for US$700,000 in general allocation money and Dallas’ second-round pick (46th overall).

In the second round, Toronto took Pitt defender Jackson Gilman (36th overall), Montreal chose Georgetown midfielder Aidan Godinho (46th overall) and Vancouver selected Seattle forward Yeider Zuluaga (59th overall).

In the third round, Montreal selected Wake Forest midfielder Tate Lorentz (63rd overall) and Vancouver took Washington midfielder Connor Lofy (89th overall).

Montreal’s Charles-Emile Brunet, a sophomore midfielder at Southern Methodist University, went in the third round (80th overall) to Nashville SC. Brunet, the son of La Presse sports columnist Mathias Brunet, was named to the all-ACC third team this season after scoring two goals and adding six assists in his first season with the Mustangs.

Markovic won gold with Quebec at the 2022 Canada Games and joined the CF Montreal academy at 18, spending a year and a half there before starting at North Carolina State.

He started all 22 of North Carolina State’s games this season as the Wolfpack outscored its opposition 50-12 with an NCAA-best 15 shutouts. Markovic earned first-team all-American honours and was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.

He is the first No. 1 overall selection in North Carolina State program history.

While Markovic’s brief is stopping goals, he can make an impact at the other end of the field.

Last November, his headed goal in double overtime was the Wolfpack’s winner over Charlotte in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He had two goals and two assists this season.

After making the all-ACC Freshman Team last season, Markovic was named to 2025 all-ACC Team in addition to his conference defensive player honours.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press