Mikkel Desler

Desler's current-season form is level with last season (Season 19→19), while his Rating eased 20→17. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 55).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Austin · 14th	11	1	0	6.78	17	19
2025/26	Austin · 6th	21	1	3	6.87	20	19
2024/25	Austin · 8th	7	0	0	6.77	21	6
2023/24	Toulouse · 11th	24	0	1	6.96	51	16
2022/23	Toulouse · 13th	29	1	2	6.97	60	36

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 9 earlier seasons in the full career.

Denmark · international

Side	Apps	G
Denmark U23	4	0
Denmark U21	1	0
Denmark U17	2	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

M. Desler is a 31-year-old central defender at Austin, rated 19.7 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option this season (46.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.99 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Desler.

On the season, Desler graded 19 for current form (age-blind), on 4 clean sheets and 3.993 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 19 → 19). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 20. At 31 Desler is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.7 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2021/22Holding levelBreakout: 2021/22Stepped up 2022/23Injury-hit 2025/26

19.7

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

18.9

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

46.6%

Minutes

rotation minutes

3.99

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Austin finished 6th of 15 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.99

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.99 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 3 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.24 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.
Defensive volume. 3.99 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 46.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 19.7 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.99 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %46.6%

Available fixtures36 of 36

Goals / 900.06

Assists / 900.179

Goal contribution / 900.238

Defensive actions / 903.993

Player flow

Goal involvements4

Cards / 900.298

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~6), then tapers with age. At 31, Desler sits on 2.7, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Desler's projected Rating — 19.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists3

Defending

Tackles43

Interceptions15

Blocks9

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards5

Red cards0

Transfer history

AustinJul 2024 – nowFree

ToulouseJul 2021 – Jul 2024

HaugesundMar 2019 – Jul 2021

Odenseuntil Mar 2019

About M. Desler

Mikkel Desler Puggaard is a 31-year-old centre-back who plays for Austin, born on February 19, 1995 in Assens, standing 184 cm tall. He is from Denmark. Austin currently sit 14th of 15 in the Major League Soccer.

This season

In the current season, M. Desler has made 11 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 598 minutes, averaging a 6.77 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 2 yellow cards.

When M. Desler plays, Austin's record this season is 3W-3D-5L — and his match ratings average 7.18 at home against 6.45 on the road.

Recent matches

August 27, 2026: 0-2 loss away at Toluca (52 minutes, 6.7 rating)
August 20, 2026: 2-1 win away at Seattle Sounders (19 minutes, 6.5 rating)
May 23, 2026: 0-3 loss away at St. Louis City (60 minutes, 6.5 rating)
May 17, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Sporting Kansas City (84 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)
May 10, 2026: 2-2 draw away at Minnesota United FC (90 minutes, 6.5 rating)
May 3, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs St. Louis City (96 minutes, 8.2 rating)
April 26, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Houston Dynamo (95 minutes, 7.3 rating)
April 23, 2026: 1-5 loss away at San Jose Earthquakes (24 minutes, 5.9 rating)
April 18, 2026: 3-3 draw away at Toronto FC (71 minutes, 6.6 rating)
April 11, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Los Angeles Galaxy (29 minutes, 6.2 rating)

M. Desler's next match is on September 6, 2026, when Austin face San Jose Earthquakes at home in the Major League Soccer.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Desler at 19.7 with a Season form score of 18.9. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the Coupe de France and the Ligue 2. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 14 recorded seasons, M. Desler has totalled 313 club appearances with 7 goals and 17 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 38 appearances for Toulouse.

M. Desler's career has also included time at Toulouse, Haugesund and Odense.

On the international stage, M. Desler has represented Denmark U23, Denmark U21, Denmark U17 — 7 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Austin finished 6th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points