Top unsigned players

1. CF, Tomo Allen, San Jose Earthquakes

Allen is committed to Stanford, but if a pro soccer career is the goal, he should be playing professionally very soon. He is committed to Stanford, an amazing school, but he is too good to be playing college soccer. San Jose is a mess and he hasn’t been given a ton of opportunities in MLS Next Pro, so a move elsewhere makes the most sense. 

2. WING, Gavin Turner, D.C. United

Turner has spent a lot of the last two seasons injured, but he’s back, healthy and looking very strong. When fit  he is a top player and I imagine he is deciding between a homegrown contract with D.C. United and options abroad, most likely England. 

3. LB, Dominik Chong Qui, Atlanta United

The one seems like a no brainer. Caleb Wiley just moved to Europe and Chong Qui looks like the natural successor in the next couple of years. Atlanta just signed Kaiden Moore from the 2007 class and I imagine Chong Qui is the next priority. Chong Qui is very young, so he won’t turn 18 until the end of 2025, meaning he wouldn’t be able to leave for Europe before then. 

4. CF, Justin Ellis, Orlando City

Ellis is Orlando’s top unsigned prospect and should be a high priority for them, but I am not convinced this would be the best path for Ellis. Orlando has a logjam at striker on the first team and the club has given few opportunities to young players. 

5. CM, Owen Anderson, Real Salt Lake

Anderson would be on a professional contract if Real Salt Lake had their way, but they are currently in tense negotiations with San Jose and MLS for his rights.

6. LB, Tristan Brown, Columbus Crew

Columbus has been on a good streak of signing their top academy players and I would expect Tristan Brown to be the next one up. The left-back has improved a lot over the last one and a half years and should be a priority signing.

7. CB, Jackson Platts, Orlando City

Platts is going to be an interesting one to watch. His talent certainly meets the threshold of an MLS homegrown, but I am not sure where Orlando stands on him. I think all academy players should be a little skeptical of signing a pro contract with Orlando considering the lack of opportunity on the first team.

8. WING, Darius Randell, Minnesota United

Hey, a Minnesota United player! Randell is one of the most talented players to stay at Minnesota this long. He has played a good amount in MLS Next Pro. Will Minnesota actually sign a solid homegrown? 

9. CB, Jacksen McNeal, St. Louis City

McNeal hasn’t seen any time with the second team which indicates that he may not be a priority for St. Louis. I think that is a mistake. Big, athletic center-backs that have distribution capabilities are tough to find and McNeal fits that profile. USL clubs should be all over him if nothing is to be worked out with St. Louis. 

10. LB, Leo Christiano, Sporting Kansas City

Christiano was injured a lot of the last academy season but he is playing consistently for SKC II which is a good sign. Good academy left-backs are hard to find and Sporting KC would be wise to get him signed to a pro deal. 

11. CM, Nelson Hernandez, D.C. United

It is hard to know how D.C. views its top U19 players because they do not have a MLS Next Pro team. Hernandez is a talented player that has gotten better every year. 

12. RB, Etienne Veillard, Seattle Sounders

I have heard for a while that Veillard is on a pro pathway in Seattle but he isn’t getting any time with their second team. He is either injured or not progressing enough to warrant the promotion.

13. CB, Nicholas Almeida, Inter Miami

Almeida has a ton of great tools at center-back, but he hasn’t grown much the last few years and that might be what is keeping Inter Miami from playing him in MLS Next Pro. He just might have enough athleticism and technical ability on the ball to transition to the six. 

14. WING, Gio Granda, Chicago Fire

Granda burst onto the scene this past season and has become one of Chicago’s top academy players. He is getting decent minutes in MLS Next Pro and Chicago may look to sign him after passing on Dylan Borso. Grando could also be a player that goes the college route. 

15. DM, Jack Pymm, Inter Miami

After earning over 500 minutes in MLS Next Pro last year and looking up for it, he has only played over 200 minutes this season. I am not sure if that is due to injury or the club’s decision. It might be difficult for Pymm to get a pro contract given the amount of players Inter Miami has in midfield on their first team. Pymm is a Jack McGlynn lite type profile and should find a professional home somewhere in the next year or so.