Canadian defender Nikola Markovic taken first overall in MLS SuperDraft

By Canadian Press on December 18, 2025.

D.C. United has taken Canadian defender Nikola Markovic first overall in the MLS SuperDraft.

The 21-year-old sophomore centre back from Gatineau, Que., helped North Carolina State to the NCAA tournament championship game earlier this week, with the Wolfpack losing 3-2 on a golden goal to the University of Washington.

The only other Canadian to go first overall in the MLS draft was Cyle Larin in 2015.

He went on to become MLS Rookie of the Year with Orlando City before taking his talents to Europe.

Markovic was one of four underclassmen to sign Generation Adidas contracts with Major League Soccer, adding to their desirability given that such deals do not count against a team’s salary cap budget.

The six-foot-four, 205-pounder 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.

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

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press