The 2025 MLS season has come and gone for several clubs meaning the roster building for 2026 is underway.
CF Montreal, St. Louis CITY SC, and the Houston Dynamo are three of the first teams to begin making roster moves ahead of the winter offseason schedule. All three failed to make the MLS Cup Playoffs, meaning their roster shuffling for next season has begun much earlier than they would’ve hoped.
Griffin Dorsey, Matty Longstaff, and Chris Durkin were among several players to see their options exercised. Alfredo Morales and Bryce Duke saw their options declined, opening the door for them to seek new opportunities elsewhere.
Many more clubs are expected to announce their roster moves over the next two months ahead of the new year.
Here is where teams stand at the moment, and which teams have reported their roster moves:
*This post will be updated as teams make their announcements.
Houston Dynamo
Options Exercised: Artur, Griffin Dorsey, Blake Gillingham, Nelson Quiñónes, Brooklyn Raines.
Options Declined: Stephen Annor, Obafemi Awodesu, Ethan Bartlow, Erik Dueñas, Michael Halliday, Sebastian Kowalczyk, Damion Lowe, Sergio Santos, Daniel Steres, Júnior Urso
Expired Contracts: Franco Escobar, Gabe Segal, Andrew Tarbell.
**The club is in talks with Pablo Ortiz and Amine Bassi over future stays
CF Montreal
Options Exercised: Brandan Craig, Luca Petrasso, Matty Longstaff.
Options Declined: Fernando Álvarez, Bryce Duke, Giacomo Vrioni.
Terminated Contracts: Tom Pearce.
St. Louis CITY SC
Options Exercised: Chris Durkin, Sangbin Jeong, João Klauss, Brendan McSorley, Christian Olivares, Jaziel Orozco, Miguel Perez.
Options Declined: Henry Kessler, Michael Wentzel, Josh Yaro, Rasmus Alm, Alfredo Morales, Akil Watts.
Expired Contracts: Ben Lundt, Selmir Pidro.
Expired Loans: Conrad Wallem, Devin Padelford.
*The club is in talks with Kessler, Lundt, and Yaro over potential new deals. The club is in talks with Wallem and Padelford’s parent clubs over potential moves. The club is also in talks with Joey Zalinsky, Jayden Reid, and Seth Antwi over their futures.