Wil Trapp Bio
William Alexander Trapp, born on January 15, 1993, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC. A product of the Columbus Crew Academy and a former captain of Columbus Crew SC, Trapp has built a reputation as a steady, ball-playing midfielder and a respected leader at both club and international level. His senior national team debut came in 2015, and he has represented the United States across multiple age groups.
Standing 173 centimeters tall, Trapp combines technical comfort in possession with positional discipline, traits that have allowed him to anchor midfield units in MLS for more than a decade. He remains active in the league and continues to be regarded as one of the more experienced American central midfielders of his generation.
Early Life and Background
William Alexander Trapp was born on January 15, 1993, in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States. He grew up in nearby Gahanna and graduated from Lincoln High School, where he played just two seasons of high school soccer with the Golden Lions. Despite the shortened high school tenure, his performances were strong enough to earn him high school All-American recognition in both of his years on the team.
Trapp led Lincoln High School to its first-ever state title in 2009, a season in which he was also named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. A year later, in 2010, he was recognized as the NSCAA National High School Player of the Year. In 2014, Lincoln retired his number 20 jersey in honor of his contributions to the program.
At the youth club level, Trapp spent four seasons in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with Columbus, captaining his squads at both the U16 and U18 levels. He was named Crew Academy Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2010, and was rated as a five-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer.
Path to Soccer
Coming out of high school as one of the top-ranked recruits in the country, William Alexander Trapp committed to play college soccer for head coach Caleb Porter at the University of Akron. He went on to play two seasons for the Akron Zips, making 45 appearances and scoring one goal during his time with the program.
As a freshman, Trapp started all 23 games and earned widespread recognition, including selection to the All-MAC First Team, the MAC Newcomer of the Year award, and national acclaim as the top freshman player in the country. On August 27, 2011, he notched the game-winning assist on his collegiate debut against Cleveland State and finished his first season with five assists. As a sophomore, he repeated as an All-MAC First Team selection, was named an NSCAA Third Team All-American, and scored his only collegiate goal against Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament semifinals.
During Trapp’s two years at Akron, the Zips captured three Mid-American Conference titles, two regular-season championships and one tournament title, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. His college success, paired with his continued growth in the Crew Academy, set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks.
Wil Trapp Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
On December 13, 2012, it was announced that William Alexander Trapp had signed with his hometown Major League Soccer club, Columbus Crew, as a Homegrown Player. He became the fourth Homegrown Player signing in club history, following in the path of Aaron Horton, Matt Lampson, and Ben Speas. After missing the early part of his first season while on international duty, Trapp made his professional debut for the Crew on July 7, 2013, starting and playing the full ninety minutes in a 1–0 victory against Portland Timbers. He was named the club’s Man of the Match after completing 86 percent of his passes, and went on to start the final sixteen matches of the season, earning the Breakout Performer of the Year nod.
Ahead of his second professional season, Trapp was named vice-captain of Columbus, serving as understudy to Michael Parkhurst. On May 17, 2014, he wore the captain’s armband for the first time, captaining the Crew in Parkhurst’s absence against Portland. At 21 years old, he became the youngest captain in league history and the first Homegrown Player in MLS history to wear the armband in a league fixture. That season, he also received his first red card on May 4 and scored his first professional goal on September 13 in a 2–2 draw against Houston Dynamo, finishing with one goal in 31 total appearances.
Columbus Crew SC Breakthrough (2015–2019)
The 2015 campaign was defined at the club level by absences caused by injury and international duty. Trapp suffered a concussion in April that caused him to miss thirteen matches, and later missed additional games due to call-ups to the United States U23 national team. He was at his best in the postseason, starting all five matches as Crew SC made a run to MLS Cup 2015. There, Trapp registered a shot as Columbus fell 2–1 to Portland, finishing the year with 25 appearances.
In 2016, Trapp was named a 2016 MLS All-Star, becoming the first Homegrown Player in Crew SC history to receive the honor. He came on as a halftime substitute for Giovani dos Santos in the 2–1 defeat to Arsenal. The wider season, however, was disappointing for both player and club. He missed the entire month of September after a late-August concussion and tallied just one assist in 32 appearances across all competitions, as Columbus missed the playoffs for the first time since his rookie year. Ahead of the 2017 season, Trapp signed a contract extension running through 2020.
Following the trade of Michael Parkhurst to Atlanta United ahead of 2017, William Alexander Trapp was elevated to the role of full-time captain. He served ahead of a five-member leadership council that included Federico Higuaín, Ethan Finlay, Justin Meram, Jonathan Mensah, and Josh Williams. In his first season as captain, Trapp started all 40 games Columbus played, 34 in the league, five in the playoffs, and one in the U.S. Open Cup. He marked his 100th MLS appearance on April 15 in a 2–1 victory over Toronto FC, and set personal records with five assists, more than 3,000 minutes played, and three MLS Team of the Week selections.
Trapp remained captain in 2018, with an updated leadership council behind him. On July 21, 2018, he scored just his second professional goal in dramatic fashion, netting from nearly forty yards out two minutes into second-half stoppage time to give Crew SC a 3–2 victory over Orlando City. The strike was named MLS Goal of the Week.
Inter Miami CF Era (2020)
On January 31, 2020, Wil Trapp was traded to MLS expansion side Inter Miami CF. In exchange, Columbus received $100,000 in General Allocation Money and an international roster slot. His time with Inter Miami coincided with the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the compressed 2020 MLS schedule.
Minnesota United FC Era (2021–Present)
On January 5, 2021, Minnesota United FC announced that they had signed William Alexander Trapp as a free agent. Trapp described the move as a chance to join a club with high ambitions and a strong energy in the Twin Cities, expressing his eagerness to help Minnesota achieve its goals. He has since featured regularly as a defensive midfielder for the Loons, offering leadership and distribution from deep-lying positions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Trapp is widely regarded as a composed, ball-progressing defensive midfielder whose strengths lie in positional discipline, clean distribution, and the ability to dictate tempo from deep. He reads the game well, regularly positioning himself to break up opposition attacks before launching transitions, and has built strong working relationships with central defenders throughout his MLS career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Trapp’s signature moments are his 2014 distinction as the youngest captain in MLS history and the first Homegrown Player to wear the armband in a league match, his appearance in MLS Cup 2015 with Columbus, his 2016 MLS All-Star selection, and his long-range winning goal against Orlando City in 2018 that earned MLS Goal of the Week honors.
Wil Trapp Career Wins
Across more than a decade in Major League Soccer, William Alexander Trapp has collected a range of team and individual accolades while maintaining a consistent presence in central midfield. His trophy cabinet features multiple Mid-American Conference championships from his college days, and he has helped lead clubs deep into the MLS postseason.
Columbus Crew SC Highlights
During his time with Columbus Crew SC, Trapp played a central role in the club’s run to MLS Cup 2015, starting all five postseason matches that year. He was named a 2016 MLS All-Star and became the first Homegrown Player in Crew history to receive the honor. In 2017, his first as full-time captain, he started all 40 games across all competitions and was a finalist for team awards after a career-high five-assist season.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Trapp helped the Akron Zips capture three Mid-American Conference titles, two regular-season championships and one tournament crown, and qualify for the NCAA Tournament in both of his seasons. With the United States youth national teams, he captained the U20 side at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was named to the tournament’s Best XI, and was recognized as the 2013 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year.
Wil Trapp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wil Trapp is of Greek descent through his maternal grandfather, who was a former semi-professional soccer player in Greece. In May 2018, Trapp became a Greek citizen and acquired a Greek passport, an outcome that potentially allowed him an easier move to a club in an EU country later in his career.
Personal Life
Trapp grew up in the Columbus, Ohio, area and built much of his early career around his hometown club before later taking his talents to Inter Miami and Minnesota United. Public information about his personal relationships has not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 MLS season, William Alexander Trapp remains a key central midfield option for Minnesota United FC, providing experience and leadership in the middle of the park. His continued presence allows the Loons to field a balanced unit capable of mixing possession-based build-up with disciplined defensive shape.
Early 2025 performances have seen Trapp log meaningful minutes and help stabilize Minnesota’s midfield alongside younger teammates. His familiarity with the league and its tactical demands continues to be a stabilizing influence as the club pursues another postseason berth.
Looking ahead, Trapp’s role within Minnesota United’s long-term plan will likely center on mentorship of emerging midfielders and steady contributions in high-pressure matches. With the 2025 campaign unfolding, his leadership and tactical awareness remain central to the Loons’ ambitions.