The 2025 MLS regular season is only nine days from getting underway and as usual there have been roster moves galore in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Plenty of the league’s top players have changed uniform colors ahead of opening day including Luciano Acosta, Jesus Ferreira, Paul Arriola, Josef Martinez, and others. Veteran defenders Tim Parker and Omar Gonzalez were also among the players on the move in recent weeks.
Expect many other faces to commit their futures elsewhere as the early stages of the new campaign draws closer.
Here is a look at the top familiar faces in MLS who have made the move elsewhere in the league:
Luciano Acosta, FC Dallas
One of the biggest names on the move this winter, Luciano Acosta is on his way to Texas.
Acosta joined FC Dallas in a surprising move, ending a lengthy stay in Cincinnati. The 30-year-old midfielder tallied 72 goals and 97 assists in regular season play during his career, helping FC Cincinnati become one of the more competitive sides in MLS.
With FC Dallas losing both Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola this winter, Acosta’s arrival should help the Western Conference club stay competitive.
Jesus Ferreira, Seattle Sounders
Jesus Ferreira is in the prime of his career and will now try to become the Seattle Sounders newest attacking star.
Ferreira scored 54 MLS goals in 170 appearances, quickly becoming one of the league’s more dangerous attackers. The 24-year-old remains an option for the U.S. men’s national team going forward, but will have to continue racking up the goals to stay in the mix.
Jack McGlynn, Houston Dynamo
One of the rising stars in MLS, Jack McGlynn is no longer a Philadelphia Union player.
McGlynn is on his way to the Houston Dynamo, ending a long stay in Philadelphia. The USMNT midfielder scored seven goals and added 13 assists in 99 regular season appearances for the Union.
Houston will certainly love McGlynn’s soccer IQ and passing abilities.
Paul Arriola, Seattle Sounders
Another USMNT veteran on the move, Paul Arriola will join Jesus Ferreira in the Pacific Northwest.
Arriola tallied five goals and seven assists in MLS play last season, remaining one of the more consistent two-way players in the league. Whether in the starting lineup or off of the bench, Arriola’s vertical running makes him a tough player to limit.
With close to 200 MLS appearances under his belt, Arriola becomes the latest veteran player in Brian Schmetzer’s squad.
Jalen Neal, CF Montreal
Jalen Neal’s time with the LA Galaxy is over but the young defender could see a larger role in Canada.
Neal was traded to CF Montreal for a total of $650,000 in GAM, providing a new opportunity for the USMNT centerback. The 21-year-old has good height and size and should compete for minutes alongside George Campbell and Joel Waterman.
Josef Martinez, San Jose Earthquakes
One of MLS’ more famous strikers is on his way to San Jose.
Josef Martinez signed with Bruce Arena’s Earthquakes as a free agent signing. The 31-year-old Venezuelan has totaled 116 MLS goals in 184 regular season appearances, bringing one MLS Cup and several individual achievements to the table.
Martinez has taken a minor step back in production but remains a livewire in the starting lineup.
Dejan Joveljic, Sporting KC
Fresh off his best MLS season yet, Dejan Joveljic will try and replicate that production at Sporting KC.
Joveljic helped the LA Galaxy lift MLS Cup last season, tallying 21 goals and eight assists in league play. The Serbian striker now heads to SKC, a team that seeks consistent scoring help if they want to play among the big boys in the Western Conference.
Should Joveljic stay healthy, SKC will easily contend for a playoff spot.
Marky Delgado, LAFC
After helping the LA Galaxy lift MLS Cup in 2024, Marky Delgado will try to do the same with LAFC in 2025.
Delgado is staying in California after switching one of the West’s giants for another. The consistent midfielder has made over 300 MLS appearances to date, bringing a boatload of experience to the table.
LAFC will try and get back to lifting trophies this season and Delgado coming to town is a promising sign.
Eryk Williamson, Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC added midfield depth ahead of the 2025 MLS season.
Eryk Williamson moved to the Eastern Conference after joining Charlotte FC via trade with the Portland Timbers. The 27-year-old missed significant portions from the 2021 and 2023 MLS seasons due to injuries but overall still has plenty to offer.
Williamson made 98 regular season appearances for the Timbers and now has a new opportunity to play regularly under Dean Smith.
Christian Ramirez, LA Galaxy
The reigning MLS Cup champions added veteran help to their attack.
Christian Ramirez joined the club via the Columbus Crew, bringing more than 160 MLS appearances to the table. Ramirez helped the Crew win MLS Cup in 2023 before remaining a key figure in the squad in 2024.
With Dejan Joveljic now gone, the Galaxy could call on Ramirez’s services frequently.
Brandon Servania, DC United
Brandon Servania will hope to make it a long-term stay at DC United.
Servania, a former FC Dallas homegrown player, spent the last two seasons with Toronto FC. The versatile midfielder only made three appearances for TFC last season through injury, but now has a new opportunity to get back to his best.
DC United needed midfield help so this could be a win-win for both parties.
Other Familiar Faces in New Places
Maxi Urruti, New England Revolution
Tim Parker, New York Red Bulls
Junior Urso, Houston Dynamo
Ted Ku-Dipietro, Colorado Rapids
Omar Gonzalez, Chicago Fire
Brandan Craig, CF Montreal
Raheem Edwards, New York Red Bulls
Yaw Yeboah, LAFC
Nkosi Tafari, LAFC
Andy Najar, Nashville SC
Mason Stajduhar, Real Salt Lake
Erik Duenas, Houston Dynamo
Ferreira needs to issue a public apology. I don’t think you all understand why I was so heated. JF was not injured, he just came to camp unfit. That is way more unforgivable than Pefok missing a shot in front of goal. To come to camp unfit can’t even run for 45 mins a half, is just bad muy malo, smh🤦
Agreed. But I wonder if he didn’t think he would be called up. I know his skill set is good enough but last season was not to brag about. I bet he is kicking himself for being out of shape. Which just goes to show you always be ready.
It was just to cover that Seattle didn’t want him partaking in camp. He played for Seattle a couple days after the Costa Rica match. The deal to Seattle had been rumored before camp but it had to wait for MLS to vote to change its transfer rules. It does seem strange they were so vague about it, why not just say Seattle wants him to travel to Spain with them.
Agreed. I’ve seen guys with iron lungs who could cover every blade of grass on the field – Michael Bradley, Brendan Aaronson, Lennard Maloney – but Ferreira was sort of in a class unto himself. Oftentimes you see hard-running strikers get pulled after 60 or 70 because they’ve worked so hard and run themselves into the ground…Ferreira was a guy who showed in the last Gold Cup he could run hard at striker for 60 or 70, and then switch to central mid and keep right on trucking in the middle of the park even after the C-Mid had run himself out. And he could do it in the middle of summer, in 90+ degree heat, in tournament games three days apart.
The idea he somehow got out of shape enough to not be able to run for 45 seems…well, unlikely.