2025-26 MLS NEXT MID-SEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH
As the 2025-26 MLS Next season kicked off in early September, the next generation of standout talent is emerging from across the U.S. and Canada. With key tournaments & showcases like MLS Next Flex and the GA Cup on the horizon, these rising stars are poised to make a major impression on scouts and coaches at the next level. This season has also seen expanded scouting initiatives and increased integration with MLS academies, giving top performers even greater visibility. Here's a look at some of the most exciting young prospects to watch as the second half of the season unfolds.
Arman Alagha Birth Year: 2011
Position: Attacker
Club: Barca Residency Academy
A technically skilled attacking midfielder, calm on the ball with strong vision. Arman controls the game's tempo, creates countless goal-scoring chances, and shows advanced maturity in possession.
Maximiliano Alvarez Birth Year: 2011
Position: Midfielder
Club: Orlando City
A dynamic midfielder with excellent distribution. Maximiliano connects the backline to attack, reads the game intelligently, and provides a creative spark in central areas.
Alex Bayraktarov Birth Year: 2011
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Chicago Fire
A promising goalkeeper with sharp reflexes and strong shot-stopping. Alex commands his area well, is confident in the air, and distributes effectively with both feet. He fits the modern goalkeeper profile.
Bradley Castro Birth Year: 2011
Position: Midfielder
Club: New York Red Bulls
An energetic midfielder who excels in pressing and transitions. Recovers possession, drives forward with the ball, and distributes effectively while balancing attack and defense.
Carson Starrett Birth Year: 2011
Position: Attacker
Club: Inter Miami
A composed, instinctive striker who constantly finds space in the attacking third to finish under pressure. Carson stands out for early maturity, off-ball movement, and confidence in front of goal.
Zach Lapierre Birth Year: 2011
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: New England Revolution
An athletic goalkeeper with quick reactions and strong hands, excelling in one-on-one situations and aerial control. His calm distribution adds composure to his team's buildup play.
Rijkaard Atali Birth Year: 2011
Position: Forward
Club: Orlando City
An explosive forward with pace and strength. Rijkaard is aggressive in one-on-one duels, attacks space directly, and remains a constant threat in the attacking third.
Diego Ros Birth Year: 2011
Position: Midfielder
Club: Barca Residency Academy
An exceptionally technical and intelligent midfielder who dictates tempo, breaks lines, and exploits space. Diego combines close control and incisive passing to consistently impact the game.
Chris Fitanidis Birth Year: 2011
Position: Attacker
Club: Cedar Stars Academy
A direct, vertical winger with size and speed. Chris plays with aggression when running at defenders, combining physical presence with technical ability.
Abner Arias Birth Year: 2010
Position: Attacker
Club: NYCFC
A technical and versatile forward who excels as a winger on the right side. Abner combines close control, distribution, and creativity to create chances from wide areas.
Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz Birth Year: 2010
Position: Defender
Club: Charlotte FC
A central defender who is composed in possession and aggressive in duels. Jeremiah is strong in one-on-one situations with good game reading to break lines of pressure with precise passes.
Ezra Mahteme Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: San Jose Earthquakes
A versatile midfielder with excellent spatial awareness and attacking instincts. Ezra makes great runs, picks out sharp passes, and consistently changes the game in the final third with his creativity and impact.
David Ilevbare Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Atlanta United
A composed defensive midfielder with elite anticipation and game-reading ability. David breaks up attacks early, sparks counters with sharp distribution, and anchors the midfield with confident tackling and precise positioning.
Tamba Hallie Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder/Winger
Club: FC Dallas
A strong, intelligent midfielder who dictates tempo, uses elite passing range to switch play or thread through-balls, and combines composure with effective ball-carrying and decision-making to progress attacks from deep.
Samuel Diaz Gallego Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Philadelphia Union
A creative attacking midfielder with scoring ability. Samuel uses his strong game intelligence to constantly find pockets of space, link play together, and contribute goals through his vision and technique.
Abdoulaye Diop Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Philadelphia Union
A reliable central midfielder with strong defensive instincts and a sharp passing touch. Excellent ball control and movement, especially given his size at 6'2. He defends well, distributes cleanly, and covers ground.
Nathan Tchoumba Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Colorado Rapids
A tall, composed, and technically gifted defensive midfielder who dictates the tempo and impacts both sides of play from deep, blending his 6'2" physical presence with elite ball control.
Patrick Arne Birth Year: 2010
Position: Defender
Club: FC Dallas
A composed defender with strength and awareness. Patrick reads the play early, intercepts aggressively, and is reliable in duels. He distributes well from the back and has strong leadership qualities.
Juan Martinez Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: LA Galaxy
A sharp, attacking midfielder with a natural goal-scoring instinct and creative flair. He combines intelligent movement with clinical finishing, consistently making an impact.
Mason Washington Birth Year: 2011
Position: Defender
Club: LAFC
A strong, athletic center back with excellent physical tools and a high ceiling. Mason defends confidently, distributes well, and reads the game well from the back.
Jamil Danjaji Birth Year: 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Columbus Crew
A sharp striker with elite movement, quick reactions, and impressive ball control. Jamil is a composed finisher who aggressively presses off-the-ball and consistently finds space to create scoring chances.
Seyi Fakiyesi Birth Year: 2010
Position: Defender
Club: Atlanta United
An explosive left back who thrives in fast-paced systems, stretching the field with direct runs and dangerous crosses. He's a physically dominant ball carrier with elite crossing ability.
Tanner Miller Birth Year: 2009
Position: Defender
Club: Orlando City
An attacking fullback with strong positional awareness and excellent timing on overlapping runs. Tanner combines clean distribution with confident movement, consistently creating width and supporting the attack.
Shane Notkin Birth Year: 2009
Position: Midfielder
Club: Cedar Stars Academy
A physically dominant forward with a powerful left foot and sharp attacking instincts. Shane combines aggressive dribbling with clinical finishing and creative passing.
Van Parker Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: Real Salt Lake
A striker with sharp finishing, speed, and agility that make him a constant threat in attack. Beyond scoring, he's deeply involved in the buildup linking play and creating chances.
Edgar Rodriguez Birth Year: 2009
Position: Defender
Club: San Jose Earthquakes
A composed, ball-playing center back with excellent anticipation, tackling, and technical quality. Excellent in 1v1 battles, Edgar is brave and shows real defensive grit.
Henrik Hvatum Birth Year: 2009
Position: Winger
Club: NYCFC
A left-footed winger with the skill and confidence to take over games. Naturally positioned on the right, Henrik thrives cutting inside to finish with precision.
Rylan Hashimoto Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: Real Salt Lake
An intelligent, left-footed attacker who combines creativity and close control with end product, using his 1v1 ability, movement, and vision to consistently create and finish chances.
Nash Dearmin Birth Year: 2009
Position: Defender
Club: Inter Miami
A modern, attack-minded right back who blends aggressive 1v1 defending with excellent delivery from wide, using pace and technical quality to occupy the right flank.
Marcelo Avalos Birth Year: 2009
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: San Jose Earthquakes
A promising young goalkeeper with quick reflexes, confident shot-stopping, and composure under pressure.
Linkon Ream Birth Year: 2009
Position: Defender
Club: Real Salt Lake
A defender that plays with calm precision, excelling in 1v1 defensive situations and timing his tackles cleanly. Confident on the ball, he carries forward when needed and reads attacking threats early.
Siji Sowemimo Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: D.C. United
A fast, powerful, and dynamic wide player who combines strength and agility to dominate 1v1 situations, driving forward with intent to create and finish attacking opportunities.
Christian Ayala Birth Year: 2009
Position: Midfielder
Club: Austin FC
A complete playmaker with vision, technique, and a strong shot. Creates chances and dictates attacking play effectively.
Vala Saghafi Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: Portland Timbers
A creative and technical attacking midfielder known for his sharp vision, precise passing, and goal-scoring. He excels at finding space and linking up play.
Jordyn Eason Birth Year: 2009
Position: Midfielder
Club: FC Dallas
A talented forward known for his attacking instincts and versatility across the front line. He plays with pace and confidence, often operating as a left winger.
Max Steelman Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: LA Galaxy
A sharp attacker with speed, creativity, and a fearless approach on the field. His clean technique and smart movement make him a constant threat.
Alex Bruner Louchnikov Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: New England Revolution
A smooth, athletic winger with elite speed and fluidity, consistently showing dynamic traits when running at defenders.
Christopher Cook Birth Year: 2009
Position: Midfielder
Club: FC Dallas
A technically sharp, attacking midfielder who thrives between the lines, using quick touches, fluid movement, and clever passing to create scoring chances.
Kunle Tokode Birth Year: 2009
Position: Attacker
Club: Vancouver Whitecaps
An exciting winger whose game is built on dynamic dribbling, sharp 1v1 ability, and technical quality. He plays with creativity and composure.
Alex Gimple Birth Year: 2008
Position: Attacker
Club: Columbus Crew
A well-rounded wide player whose versatility and direct style make him a constant threat. Naturally left-footed but comfortable on either side, he drives forward with power and intent.
Looking Ahead
All eyes will be on these young talents striving to take the next step in their careers. With critical matches and showcases ahead, their development and performances could earn them minutes at the professional level in MLS Next Pro, USL, or MLS. Be sure to stay connected with us for more updates, behind-the-scenes content, and player spotlights throughout the season.
Article originally published by OPSM Network. Follow them on Instagram @opsmsoccer.
