The 2024 MLS regular season is only six days from getting underway and as usual there have been roster moves galore in both conferences.
Plenty of the league’s top free agents have already solidified their roster spots for the upcoming season including defender Miles Robinson, winger Julian Gressel, and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro. Many others have also made the move this winter including Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, and Maxime Crepeau.
With teams set to continue bolstering their rosters ahead of the new campaign, additional moves are expected to happen as well.
Here is a look at the top familiar faces in MLS who have made the move elsewhere in the league:
Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati
Miles Robinson was heavily linked with a European move this winter, but instead decided to stay in the U.S. with FC Cincinnati.
The veteran centerback signed a one-year deal with the defending Supporters’ Shield winners, bolstering Pat Noonan’s backline in a major way. Robinson has eclipsed over 125 MLS appearances to date, lifting MLS Cup in 2018, as well as a handful of other domestic trophies.
FC Cincinnati will debut in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, providing Robinson with another major opportunity to lift silverware.
Nicolas Lodeiro, Orlando City
Nicolas Lodeiro looked destined to end his MLS career with the Seattle Sounders, but the Uruguayan instead threw a curveball and made the move to Orlando City.
The 34-year-old attacking midfielder totaled 49 goals and 91 assists in league play with the Sounders, helping the Western Conference club lift the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022 and two MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019 respectively.
Lodeiro still has plenty to offer the Lions, especially with Oscar Pareja’s squad set for CONCACAF involvement this winter.
Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers made a major acquisition this winter by bringing Canadian international goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau onboard.
Crepeau, 29, missed most of the 2023 league campaign with LAFC following his serious leg injury in the 2022 MLS Cup Final. However, he did return down the stretch and finished with 11 appearances for the Western Conference Champions.
Now on his third team in the past four years, Crepeau will try and help the Timbers get back to being one of the league’s competitive sides.
Julian Gressel, Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s roster was already loaded with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, among others. Then Julian Gressel came onboard.
Gressel heads to Florida fresh off an MLS Cup-winning campaign with the Columbus Crew. The 30-year-old fullback/winger has made over 200 MLS appearances to date with four different clubs, lifting MLS Cup on two occasions.
His versatility should provide a major boost to an Inter Miami squad that has aspirations in 2024.
Kellyn Acosta, Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire needed leadership in their roster heading into 2024. Enter Kellyn Acosta.
The 28-year-old veteran midfielder makes the move to Chicago after reaching his second-straight MLS Cup in 2023 with LAFC. Acosta, a former FC Dallas homegrown, has totaled 268 MLS appearances to date, scoring 19 goals and adding 25 assists.
Chicago has failed to make the playoffs in each of the last six seasons and will hope Acosta’s arrival helps spark a turnaround this year.
Dax McCarty, Atlanta United
36-year-old Dax McCarty isn’t showing any signs of slowing down ahead of his 20th MLS season.
McCarty joined Atlanta United this winter in the latest stop of his legendary career. After four positive years with Nashville SC, McCarty now joins an Atlanta United squad that is seeking a return to glory.
The Five Stripes will certainly benefit with having McCarty and his 490+ MLS appearances at their disposal.
Diego Rubio, Austin FC
Austin FC endured a rough 2023 season, but will hope Diego Rubio’s goalscoring abilities can help them get back in the MLS limelight.
Rubio makes the move from Colorado to Austin after a tough season of his own. The 30-year-old’s production plummeted drastically from 16 goals and seven assists in 2022 to only three goals and four assists in 2023.
Rubio will try and form an immediate partnership with Gyasi Zardes and Sebastian Driussi in Josh Wolff’s attack.
Damir Kreilach, Vancouver Whitecaps
Damir Kreilach’s six-season stay in Salt Lake has come to an end, but a new chapter has already begun in Canada.
Kreilach joined the Vancouver Whitecaps as a free-agent signing, bringing ample years of experience to the squad. The Croatian midfielder/forward already has one goal to his name in this season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup and should be a nice pair with last season’s leading attackers Ryan Gauld and Brian White.
Corey Baird, FC Cincinnati
Not only did FC Cincinnati bolster their defense in a big way, but they also added veteran attacking help.
Corey Baird joined the Supporters’ Shield winners after a career-best year with the Houston Dynamo. Baird totaled nine goals and six assists in league play, helping Ben Olsen’s squad win the U.S. Open Cup and reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The 28-year-old brings over 160 league appearances of experience to the FC Cincy and will try and help fill the gap left by Brandon Vazquez’s transfer to Monterrey.
Aaron Herrera, DC United
For the third time in the last three years, Aaron Herrera will be sporting new colors in his MLS career.
The veteran fullback was traded to DC United this winter, ending a one-season stay with CF Montreal. Herrera, a former Real Salt Lake homegrown signing, has made over 150 league appearances to date, registering 21 assists.
A strong two-way player, Herrera should be an easy lock to start in Troy Lesesne’s squad this year.
John McCarthy, LA Galaxy
John McCarthy is coming off his most-productive season yet as a professional heading into a new role with the LA Galaxy.
The 31-year-old set a career-high in appearances last year (25) as he featured heavily for LAFC in Maxime Crepeau’s absence. McCarthy played the hero for LAFC during their MLS Cup win in 2022 and now makes the short trek to Carson, California as a member of the Galaxy.
Jonathan Bond and Novak Micovic will challenge McCarthy for minutes this year, but expect him to be ready for the challenge.
Other Familiar Faces in New Places
Fafa Picault, Vancouver Whitecaps
Nick Lima, New England Revolution
Brendan Hines-Ike, Austin FC
Edwin Cerrillo, LA Galaxy
Dru Yearwood, Nashville SC
Miguel Berry, LA Galaxy
Ruan, CF Montreal
Tyler Boyd, Nashville SC
Omir Fernandez, Colorado Rapids
Chris Durkin, St. Louis CITY SC
Lucas Bartlett, DC United
Tom Barlow, Chicago Fire