After a first round playoff exit in 2025 there's some interesting upgrades for 2026, fingers crossed.
Big news is Bukari moving on to a Euro club (sounds like part of the reason was his wife and baby coming to the US, which I totally understand right now) and the signing of Facundo Torres late last week as a replacement DP. Torres was in MLS two seasons ago with Orlando and had 20 goals and 6 assists in all competitions before leaving for Palmeiras in Brazil for a year. He's a left footed winger who likes to play inverted on the right, should be a big upgrade for the attack.
Other additions
Joseph Rosales - defender/midfielder signed from Minnesota for 1.5 million with the new MLS cashfer option, Honduran international, likely slots in at left back or left wing/wingback but can also play centrally
Jayden Nelson - winger and Canadian international signed from Vancouver for our first round 2026 pick and 1.25 million in GAM split across 2025 and 2026, absolute burner who's the likely starter at left wing
Jon Bell - center back who's got a couple appearances for the Jamaican national team, free agent signing that last played in Seattle, likely depth at center back
Outgoing
Jader Obrian - contract termination exercised by club just today, that move brings us into roster compliance at 25 spots
Julio Cascante - contract option declined by club
Diego Rubio - contract option declined by club
Stefan Cleveland - backup keeper traded to Kansas City for 50k GAM
Other notes
- Owen Wolff underwent surgery for a sports hernia a few weeks ago and is expected to be active for the season opener. Curious to see if we play him as more of a 10/forward pressing 8 after a lot of time on the wing last season.
- Brandon Vazquez is still rehabbing after ACL surgery and expected back in May.
- Damian Las is back from his loan with Louisville City and will backup Stuver at goalkeeper, only two keepers on the roster.
We've definitely got more firepower than we did last season, big question for me is what we do with Uzuni once BV is back. They didn't seem to mesh well together last season, we tried Uzuni some on the left wing but he's not a true winger and we've got better options there now. Not sure if we try some kind of 4-4-2/3-5-2 or look to move Uzuni on in the summer window.
Verde Listos!
Big news is Bukari moving on to a Euro club (sounds like part of the reason was his wife and baby coming to the US, which I totally understand right now) and the signing of Facundo Torres late last week as a replacement DP. Torres was in MLS two seasons ago with Orlando and had 20 goals and 6 assists in all competitions before leaving for Palmeiras in Brazil for a year. He's a left footed winger who likes to play inverted on the right, should be a big upgrade for the attack.
Other additions
Joseph Rosales - defender/midfielder signed from Minnesota for 1.5 million with the new MLS cashfer option, Honduran international, likely slots in at left back or left wing/wingback but can also play centrally
Jayden Nelson - winger and Canadian international signed from Vancouver for our first round 2026 pick and 1.25 million in GAM split across 2025 and 2026, absolute burner who's the likely starter at left wing
Jon Bell - center back who's got a couple appearances for the Jamaican national team, free agent signing that last played in Seattle, likely depth at center back
Outgoing
Jader Obrian - contract termination exercised by club just today, that move brings us into roster compliance at 25 spots
Julio Cascante - contract option declined by club
Diego Rubio - contract option declined by club
Stefan Cleveland - backup keeper traded to Kansas City for 50k GAM
Other notes
- Owen Wolff underwent surgery for a sports hernia a few weeks ago and is expected to be active for the season opener. Curious to see if we play him as more of a 10/forward pressing 8 after a lot of time on the wing last season.
- Brandon Vazquez is still rehabbing after ACL surgery and expected back in May.
- Damian Las is back from his loan with Louisville City and will backup Stuver at goalkeeper, only two keepers on the roster.
We've definitely got more firepower than we did last season, big question for me is what we do with Uzuni once BV is back. They didn't seem to mesh well together last season, we tried Uzuni some on the left wing but he's not a true winger and we've got better options there now. Not sure if we try some kind of 4-4-2/3-5-2 or look to move Uzuni on in the summer window.
Verde Listos!