MLS Next Pro 2023 U19 Impact Rankings
October 2023
The second ever MLS Next Pro season has completed and the league is continuing to be a decent testing grade for young talent that isn't quite ready for first team football in Major League Soccer. While the level still needs to improve to be a quality reserve team competition, it's still a good test for kids that are graduating from the U17 academy level.
I took a look at U19 players — born in 2004 or later — and identified who I believed had the biggest positive impact on their clubs this year. This list serves as a good indicator of which young players might be close to being first team contributors next year.
Christopher Olney, left midfielder for Philadelphia Union II
#1 | LM, Christopher Olney, Philadelphia Union II
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,816
Goals: 4
Assists: 9
G+: 1.50
Olney took a massive step forward from U17 level to second team level and was one of the most effective field players in all of MLS Next Pro at the age of 16. Olney leads this list of players with 13 goal contributions. Philly is trying to get him signed to a first team contract, but Olney has an Italian passport and it's proving to be a challenge.
#2 | GK, Antonio Carrera, North Texas SC
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,710
Clean Sheets: 3
Goals Against / 90: 1.52
G+: 2.31
Carrera was one of the best keepers in all of MLS Next Pro and produced the highest goals added grade for all U.S. eligible U19 players. Carrera has shown that he is ready for a new level.
#3 | CB, Alejandro Cano, San Jose Earthquakes II
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,511
Assists: 1
G+: 1.64
Cano had a great season with Earthquakes 2, but he still isn't under contract with the first team and I wonder if it's time to move on to a new club where he could get more of an opportunity.
#4 | RM, David Vazquez, Philadelphia Union II
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,422
Goals: 5
Assists: 2
G+: 1.47
Vazquez, like Olney, is a U17 player that cemented a starting position and had a really solid season as he made the jump from U17 football to second team football. Like Olney, Philly has not yet been able to sign Vazquez to a first team deal.
#5 | CB, Lazar Stefanovic, Toronto FC II
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 2,148
G+: 0.81
Stefanovic was one of the youngest starting CBs in all of MLS Next Pro this year and performed better than any young CB in the league. Stefanovic is currently captain of the Canada U17 team that will be headed to the World Cup in November, but he is still eligible to make a one-time switch to the United States down the line.
#6 | GK, Alexander Yagudayev, NYCFC II
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,005
Goals Against / 90: 2.00
G+: 2.07
Yagudayev has flown way under the radar, but he was one of the youngest goalkeepers in MLS Next Pro that earned a lot of minutes. He was excellent as a shot stopper and distributor in the starts he received. It is surprising he hasn't been given a U.S. U17 opportunity and he is not on a first team deal.
#7 | CB, Britton Fischer, Minnesota United FC 2
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,614
Goals: 1
G+: 0.89
Minnesota signed Fischer from North Carolina FC this summer and Fischer had a really good first year with his new club. I would not be surprised if Fischer is offered a first team deal before the start of the 2024 MLS season.
#8 | RW, Luke Brennan, Atlanta United 2
Birth Year: 2005
Minutes: 2,128
Goals: 4
Assists: 6
G+: 0.78
Brennan had a very good season as a starting winger for Atlanta 2 and is tied for second on this list with 10 goal contributions. Brennan's hybrid contract will turn into a first team deal next year and I would not be surprised if he becomes a contributor for the first team before the end of the season.
#9 | ST, Nelson Pierre, Philadelphia Union II
Birth Year: 2005
Minutes: 1,414
Goals: 4
Assists: 6
G+: 0.64
Pierre had another very nice MLS Next Pro campaign and was tied with Brennan for second most goal contributions with 10. Pierre is on a first team deal with Philly and will likely start integrating more with the first team next season. I would expect him to make his first team debut at some point next year.
#10 | CM, Taha Habroune, Columbus Crew 2
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 934
Goals: 3
Assists: 4
G+: 1.43
Habroune has the fewest amount of minutes of all of the guys on this list, but he did a lot with the time he received. He had an impressive goal added rate of 1.43 and seven goal contributions in under 1,000 minutes. I don't think Habroune will be ready to contribute to the first team next year, but he should be a lock starter in Next Pro and get around 2,000 minutes.
#11 | CM, Cole Mrowka, Columbus Crew 2
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,457
Goals: 2
Assists: 4
G+: 0.73
Mrowka received more playing time than fellow U17 Crew player, Habroune, but wasn't quite as effective with the time he received. Still, Mrowka had an impressive first season in MLS Next Pro and should be a fixture on this team next year.
#12 | LB/WING, Peyton Miller, New England Revolution II
Birth Year: 2007
Minutes: 1,572
Goals: 3
Assists: 3
G+: 0.44
Miller had one of the most impressive seasons in MLS Next Pro considering he is the youngest player on this list and the youngest starter in the league. Miller split his time between left-back and winger at just 15 years old. Miller looks like a big time prospect for both New England and U.S. Soccer.
#13 | RB, Justin Reynolds, Chicago Fire II
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,900
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
G+: 0.39
Reynolds had a very solid season in his second MLS Next Pro campaign and looks like a player that isn't too far from pushing for a first team role.
#14 | CB, Noah Cobb, Atlanta United 2
Birth Year: 2005
Minutes: 1,552
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
G+: 0.42
Cobb was a very solid starter for Atlanta 2 this year and also received some opportunities with the first team. I don't think he'll be ready to make the jump to be a full-time MLS starter next year, even with a potential spot opening with impending free agent Miles Robinson likely to move. A loan to USL might be the best next step for Cobb.
#15 | LB, Luca Bambino, LAFC 2
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,309
Assists: 2
G+: 0.29
Bambino was a pleasant surprise for me in MLS Next Pro this year. I hadn't viewed him as a top 2006 class player, but he performed admirably for LAFC 2 and they may view him as a potential first team signing option in the future. Bambino is currently with the U.S. U17s in their final camp before the U17 World Cup and could make that roster.
#16 | WING, Malcolm Fry, New England Revolution II
Birth Year: 2005
Minutes: 1,557
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
G+: 0.20
Fry was a solid player for one of the best teams in the league and while he isn't signed to a first team deal, he could push his way into that conversation in the next year or two.
#17 | RB, Alex Freeman, Orlando City B
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,856
Goals: 4
Assists: 4
G+: -0.08
From a pure talent perspective, Freeman should be past this level, but he's blocked at the first team level and his inconsistency is still a legitimate question mark. His eight goal contributions from the full-back spot is impressive production for that position. Freeman would benefit from a loan next year where he can test himself at a higher level.
#18 | WING, CJ Fodrey, Austin FC II
Birth Year: 2004
Minutes: 1,244
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
G+: 0.22
Fodrey was an early MLS Super Draft selection and became one of the leaders of Austin FC II this year. He's had a cup of coffee in MLS and will look to become a rotational player for the first team next year.
#19 | CB/LB, Javen Romero, LAFC 2
Birth Year: 2006
Minutes: 1,124
Assists: 1
G+: 0.20
Romero played both left center-back and left-back for LAFC2 this year has played admirably, but I am not sure he has impressed enough to convince LAFC that he is a future first team player — Romero may look to make a move next season. Romero is likely to be on Mexico's U17 team for the U17 World Cup.
#20 | CM, Sergio Oregel, Chicago Fire II
Birth Year: 2005
Minutes: 1,344
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
G+: 0.00
Oregel is a player that I thought might have a chance to impact the first team this year, but I still don't know that he is physically ready for that level and Chicago Fire didn't think so either. He had a nice season in MLS Next Pro, but not the kind of campaign that will have him knocking on the door for the first team.
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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