Minnesota United signed Dominik Fitz to be a locksmith inside MLS defenses that, with increasing regularity, pack five tightly along the back line and force the Loons to break them down.

With United’s final stretch of the campaign starting at San Diego FC on Saturday, time is of the essence to see what the 26-year-old Austrian can do for the club’s pursuit of its first trophy.

“I hope I can bring in my qualities, my last passes and my creativity,” Fitz told reporters Tuesday. “I hope that I can help the team. And sometimes when the games are hard, I can make some passes like I did in Austria.”

The Loons signed the attacking midfielder to a 4 1/2 year contract through the 2029 season, with a club option for 2030. United spent a $2.1 million transfer fee to Austria Wien.

Fitz will not be a Designated Player but rather have a TAM (Targeted Allocation Money) roster spot; this means MNUFC puts him in the second-highest category and will have more flexibility to add DPs during Fitz’s tenure in Minnesota.

Fitz was with Austria Wien in Vienna for 10 years, a fact that impressed Khaled El-Ahmad.

“It’s actually quite rare for one player to just be at one club for so long; I like that,” the Loons’ Chief Soccer Officer said last month. “I think that shows a little bit of calmness and loyalty.”

But Fitz felt a new challenge was necessary. “It was time to make a change, to see new things, new football, new culture,” he said. “I think that MLS is a good step for me.”

During one drill on Tuesday, however, Fitz looked like a new school kid on the recess playground, often searching for someone to pass him the ball. But overall, Loons head coach Eric Ramsay said Fitz has been “as advertised” in practices.

“Neat and tidy on the ball (and will) certainly help us in terms of creativity and craft, particularly in those situations that we find ourselves in more and more so now, where we’re we’re trying to break down a team on the top of the box,” Ramsay said.

When the Loons onboarded Joaquin Pereyra from Argentina last season, the defensive responsibilities Ramsay required of the attacking midfielder were part of the reason his adjustment took longer.

“There are some quite unique demands, I think, the players need to adapt to here,” Ramsay said Tuesday. “I think if you look at how complete (of a) player Joaquin is now versus the player that we saw when he first came in, I think, just that demands physically, defensively, sort of tactically, discipline-wise, they really benefit him.

“I hope Dom will see the positives of that over the course of the coming weeks and months.” Ramsay added. “But that’s not to say that it won’t be without his teething problems.”

Fitz said Vienna played in a similar 5-2-3 system to United, with an importance on defending. So the 5-foot-9 player feels good about knowing his role.

Among other adjustments, Ramsay said it will be the physicality of MLS compared to the Austrian Bundesliga, while Fitz said it will be the tempo and abundance of counter attacks.

Fitz has played in seven matches for Vienna in all competitions since late July, but none since Aug. 17. The lag came as the transfer was being ironed out and he received his work visa. He has been training on his own since then.

“It’s different when you play with a team or on my own,” Fitz said. “I need another little bit of time, but I think I get the time.”

Fitz first trained with the Loons on Saturday, which gives him a full week to mesh with new teammates and coaches. Ramsay was noncommittal on whether Fitz will make his debut against first-place San Diego on Saturday, waiting to see how MNUFC’s internationals return in the next few days.

Briefly

Fellow additions in the summer transfer window — Greek defensive midfielder Nectarios Triantis and Paraguayan winger Alexis Farina — are progressing in the final stages of their work visas and are likely to join MNUFC soon, Ramsay said. … Fitz said his girlfriend is joining him in the move to Minnesota, with other family members planning to visit him next season.

Austria Wien’s Dominik Fitz, left, is tackled by Villarreal’s Giovani Lo Celso during the Group C Conference League soccer match between Austria Wien and Villarreal in Vienna, Austria, Thursday Oct.13, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)