Aziel Jackson expressed his excitement to be back with Minnesota United after joining on a loan deal for the remainder of the season.

The 24-year-old spent the first half of the 2026 MLS campaign on loan with the Vancouver Whitecaps, but the Loons have now acquired Jackson from Jagiellonia Bialystok with an option for a permanent transfer.

Jackson previously spent time with Minnesota in 2022, but only featured for the first team in the US Open Cup.

Overall, he has made 81 appearances in MLS across spells with St. Louis City, the Columbus Crew and Vancouver, scoring six goals and providing eight assists.

The attacker is now raring to go for the Loons, who face Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

"I'm excited to be back with Minnesota United," Jackson told the club website.

"I'm really happy to be a part of this great organisation and team again. The city and fans have always had a special place in my heart.

"I'm happy to be back home, go Loons!"

Minnesota sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad added: "We welcome Aziel back to Minnesota United. He's a talented player who gives us another option in attack as we enter an important stretch of the season.

"His familiarity with the league, the club and Cameron [Knowles, head coach] should help him settle in quickly, and we look forward to his contributions."

Despite failing to win any of their last four MLS games, Real Salt Lake are fifth in the Western Conference.

RSL have, however, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup after winning two of their three matches, and their only defeat coming in a penalty shoot-out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Saba Lobjanidze

Both of Saba Lobjanidze’s assists this season have come since joining Real Salt Lake, and both have come as a substitute.

Since the beginning of last season, Lobjanidze’s four assists off the bench are fewer than only Alejandro Bedoya (five) among all MLS players.

Minnesota United – Joaquin Pereyra

Against San Diego FC, Joaquin Pereyra provided his team-leading eighth MLS assist of the season and his 20th with the Loons.

He is the fourth Minnesota player to record at least 20 career regular-season assists for the club, joining Darwin Quintero (20), Emanuel Reynoso (33) and Robin Lod (34).

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Real Salt Lake’s seven wins in their first eight regular-season home matches (L1) this season are the club’s most at this stage of a home campaign. Over the last three seasons, RSL have won 27 home games in the regular season, fewer than only Los Angeles FC (29).

Minnesota, meanwhile, have not won a regular-season game since a road win on May 2 against Columbus and are now winless in their last seven MLS matches (D4 L3).

However, including the playoffs, seven of the last nine meetings between Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United have finished in a draw (including two penalty shoot-outs in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs).

The seven draws are the most in any fixture involving two MLS teams since the start of the 2023 season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 43.7%

Draw – 26.8%

Minnesota United – 29.5%