The MLS NEXT Pro offseason is in full swing and several teams have begun announcing key additions for the upcoming season.
Let’s take a look at all the latest signings, roster updates, and coaching changes that will shape the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Poreba signs first team deal
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro MVP has inked a first team deal.
Chicago Fire FC announced this week that it had signed midfielder David Poreba to an MLS contract through 2025, with options to extend through 2028.
Poreba is the first Chicago Fire FC II player to move up to the First Team.
The 22-year-old led Fire II with 18 goals and six assists in 28 matches during the 2024 season, earning the MLS NEXT Pro MVP, Best XI honors, and the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot.
A Chicago-area native, Poreba started his career in the Chicago Fire Academy and played for Polish club Stal Mielec. After a loan stint with Crown Legacy FC in 2023, he joined Fire II for his record-setting 2024 season.
John Gall signs contract extension
North Texas SC announced this week that it had re-signed head coach John Gall to a two-year contract through 2026, with an option for 2027.
Gall, who joined North Texas SC as an assistant in 2023, led the team to a strong 7-1-4 record last season before joining the first team as an interim assistant coach.
Renowned for his dedication to player development and deep understanding of the FC Dallas organization, Gall will be determined to bring another championship to Frisco in 2025.
St Louis CITY2, Chicago Fire II announce new head coaches
Two playoff teams from the 2024 season have introduced new head coaches as they gear up for the 2025 campaign.
CITY2 has named David Critchley as head coach following Bobby Murphy's departure. A key figure in St. Louis CITY’s academy since 2021, Critchley has been pivotal in developing young talents like Mykhi Joyner and Tyson Pearce, with 14 of his academy players making debuts for CITY2.
Chicago Fire II has appointed Mike Matkovich as its new head coach, bringing over 30 years of coaching experience to the role.
Matkovich, previously the club’s Head Domestic Scout, brings extensive experience to his new role as Fire II’s head coach. With a strong background in player development, Matkovich has also worked at the national and first-team levels, including coaching the U.S. U-18 Men’s Youth National Team and holding different roles with multiple MLS clubs.
Kelvin Jones departs Columbus Crew 2
Columbus Crew 2 will be looking to for a new head coach as they announced this week that head coach Kelvin Jones has departed the Columbus Crew organization to pursue new professional opportunities.
Jones joined the Crew in 2017 and served as Academy Director from 2020-23. He led Crew 2 to their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final in his first season as head coach. Under his leadership, Crew 2 had 18 different goal scorers and ranked third in MLS NEXT Pro for minutes logged by players under 19.
During his tenure as Academy Director, Jones helped five players secure Homegrown contracts with Columbus and worked as an assistant coach for the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team during the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
New York Red Bulls sign Omar Valencia
New York Red Bulls added a new defender to its roster this week when they announced that the signing of Omar Valencia to a three-year MLS contract through 2027, with an option for 2028.
The 20-year-old Valencia joins the first team after spending two seasons with Red Bulls II, where he made 37 appearances and provided four assists.
Valencia’s strong play earned him seven first-team call-ups during the 2024 MLS season and made his MLS debut on June 8th against the New England Revolution.
Internationally, he has represented Panama across multiple levels, debuting for the senior team in 2022 and and made history in 2024 as the first active MLS NEXT Pro player to compete in Copa América.
Yosuke Hanya loaned out for 2025 season
Colorado Rapids 2 have announced the loan of forward Yosuke Hanya to USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks for the 2025 season.
This will be Hanya’s second stint with the Switchbacks after spending the 2024 season with the club. Hanya contributed five goals and two assists across 37 matches, helping the team win its first USL Championship title by providing an assist during the final.
Hanya joined Rapids 2 during the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season in 2022, tallying 17 goals and 13 assists in 47 appearances. His impressive performances earned him a place in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI.
LAFC signs Jude Terry
LAFC has signed 16-year-old academy midfielder Jude Terry to a Homegrown contract through 2027, with options for 2028 and 2029.
Terry, the eighth Homegrown player in LAFC history, joined the Academy in 2021 and made his professional debut with LAFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro during the 2024 season.
A native of Chula Vista, California, Terry has been a standout for the U.S. Youth National Team, helping win the 2023 Concacaf U-15 Championship and earning a training camp spot in preparation for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Qualifiers.
New England Revolution II re-signs Marcos Dias, bring on Jayden Da
New England Revolution II has re-signed forward Marcos Dias and added forward Jayden Da to the squad ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Dias returns for his fourth season with Revolution II after becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer in 2024, scoring 24 goals and nine assists across 68 appearances.
The 22-year-old posted a career-best nine goals and five assists in MLS NEXT Pro action and earned his MLS debut against Seattle Sounders FC on July 6th.
Jayden Da, also 22, joins Revolution II after a solid debut season with Columbus Crew 2, where he recorded seven goals and four assists in 24 league matches and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals. A native of Boston, Da played three seasons at Duquesne University and earned numerous accolades, including All-Atlantic 10 second team honors.
The duo will look to boost a Revs II attack that was tied for last place in goals scored in 2024.
Huntsville City FC sign pair of midfielders
Huntsville City FC announced the signings of two midfielders in Alan Carleton and Moisés Véliz ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Carleton joins Huntsville after making 56 appearances for Atlanta United 2, scoring four goals and providing three assists since 2022.
Véliz arrives on loan from Panamanian club Tauro FC, where he has made 59 appearances, contributed two goals and two assists, and won two Liga Panameña de Fútbol Championships. The 20-year-old has also made six international appearances for Panama's U-23 team.
Tacoma Defiance signs midfielder Jackson Khoury
Tacoma Defiance has signed 22-year-old midfielder Jackson Khoury to an MLS NEXT Pro contract. The Australian-born Lebanon international joins after two seasons with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One, where he earned the 2023 Young Player of the Year award with seven goals and six assists in 33 appearances.
Chattanooga FC announce reinforcements
Chattanooga Football Club has added key pieces to its roster with the addition of three players ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season: Eldin Jakupović, Darwin Ortiz, and Steeve Louis Jean.
Eldin Jakupović
CFC has started off the off season by bringing in veteran goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović on a one-year contract following a career that includes stints with Premier League clubs like Leicester City and Hull City, as well as LAFC in MLS. The 40-year-old will provide valuable experience and leadership to the young squad while also helping Chattanooga’s pursuit of MLS NEXT Pro success.
Darwin Ortiz
Honduran midfielder Darwin Ortiz has signed his first professional contract with CFC on a two-year deal, with an option for a third. The 18-year-old previously played for Southern Soccer Academy and has trained with Chattanooga’s first team in recent years. Known for his versatility and potential, Ortiz will aim to make an impact in his first professional season.
Steeve Louis Jean
Haitian midfielder Steeve Louis Jean joins CFC from Austin FC II, where he was part of the squad who secured the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup. In two seasons with Austin FC II, Louis Jean played in 45 matches and spent nearly 2,500 minutes on the field.
Timbers2 signs two players to MLS NEXT Pro deals
T2 has bolstered its roster with the additions of forward Gage Guerra and midfielder Daniel Nuñez for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
The 22-year-old Guerra joins on a two-year deal through 2026 after being selected in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The Houston native recently completed a standout collegiate career at the University of Louisville, where he scored 16 goals and added three assists in two seasons.
Daniel Nuñez became the youngest signing in T2 history signing his first professional contract at 15 years old, through 2026 with an option for 2027. A Timbers Academy product, the Bakersfield, California native made his MLS NEXT Pro debut in 2024 and has earned two call-ups to Mexico’s U17 national team.
Roster decisions
Teams are beginning to reveal which players will be returning to their squads for next season. Click the links below to check out the roster decisions announced so far.
