Maximilian Arfsten

Biography

Maximilian Michael Arfsten (born April 19, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew and the United States national team. Arfsten attended San Joaquin Memorial High School. In 2016, he posted 21 goals, 11 assists and earned all-league first team honors. He ended his junior season with All-CMAC first team recognition and league MVP honors by posting 20 goals and 21 assists. He helped the team win the league and Central Section championships that year, also earning all-league first team honors for the third straight season, and captured league MVP accolades for the second year in a row after ending his final season with 50 goals and 20 assists. Arfsten also played club soccer with local side California Odyssey for nine years, where he was the leading NPL goalscorer. In 2019, Arfsten attended the University of California, Davis to play college soccer. Between 2019 and 2021, he made 39 appearances for the Aggies, scoring nine goals and tallying eight assists. He earned Big West Conference All-Freshman Team honors in 2019. The 2020 conference season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Arfsten opted to leave college early and play professionally. He signed his first contract with MLS Next Pro side San Jose Earthquakes II ahead of their inaugural season. In his lone season with the Quakes reserve team, Arfsten scored nine goals in 24 appearances. In December 2022, Arfsten was announced as eligible for selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. He was selected 14th overall by Columbus Crew on December 21, 2022. He signed a two-year deal with the Major League Soccer side on February 21, 2023. Arsten made his debut and scored his first goal for Columbus on March 25, 2023, in a 6–1 victory over Atlanta United after coming on as a late substitute.