The 2026 MLS regular season is 16 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 Cristian Espinoza, Walker Zimmerman, Jakob Glesnes and others. Facundo Torres is back in MLS after spending the last year in Brazil while Mateusz Bogusz also made a return to the league from Mexico.
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, or made a return overall:
Facundo Torres, Austin FC
One year after leaving MLS for Brazilian club Palmeiras, Facundo Torres is back.
The Uruguayan attacker scored 10 goals and added five assists in 61 appearances for Palmeiras, featuring across multiple competitions including the FIFA Club World Cup. Now Torres is now an Austin FC player, seeking to replicate the production that he delivered with Orlando City over parts of three seasons.
After reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2025, Austin FC will hope that Torres’ arrival helps them make an even deeper run in 2026.
Cristian Espinoza, Nashville SC
One of the league’s more productive attacking midfielders will now be joined by another.
Cristian Espinoza joined Nashville SC this winter, ending a seven-year run with the San Jose Earthquakes. The 30-year-old attacking midfielder produced four goals and eight assists for San Jose last season before surprisingly walking as a free agent after San Jose reportedly “forgot” to trigger his option for 2026.
With Espinoza joining forces with Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge in Nashville, it now creates one of the league’s more deadlier offensive trios.
Walker Zimmerman, Toronto FC
Toronto FC needed defensive help iif truly wants to be a threat in 2026. Enter Walker Zimmerman.
Zimmerman joined TFC as a free agent signing, bringing more than 300+ appearances with him. The 32-year-old spent the past six seasons with Nashville SC, becoming a stalwart in the backline for multiple campaigns.
His veteran leadership and strong defensive abilities will surely improve TFC, who missed the playoffs by 21 points last season.
Jakob Glesnes, LA Galaxy
One of the bigger moves this winter was the Philadelphia Union parting ways with defender Jakob Glesnes.
Glesnes made 224 appearances for the Union over six seasons, earning three MLS All-Star nods, two Best XI selections, and one Defender of the Year award. The former Norwegian youth national team player helped the Union become one of the more consistent clubs in MLS during his time there, leading them to two Supporters’ Shields and one MLS Cup Finals appearance.
Glesnes should step right into the LA Galaxy backline this season and help them trim their 66 goals conceded from a year ago.
Mateusz Bogusz, Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo brought Mateusz Bogusz back to MLS this winter, one year after he originally left for Liga MX.
Bogusz, 24, produced three goals and seven assists for Cruz Azul over the past year, but ultimately struggled to replicate his 2024 numbers that he delivered with LAFC. Houston is reportedly paying close to $10 million for Bogusz’s services after signing him to a Designated Player deal over the next two years.
Although that fee may be a bit steep, Houston will believe that there is another level for Bogusz to get to in their system.
Dayne St. Clair, Inter Miami
The reigning MLS Cup champions have had one heck of an offseason.
After Gerard Berterame, Sergio Reguillon, among others, the Herons also signed reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair to their squad. The Canadian international signed a one-year deal with Inter Miami, taking his talents to Florida after being Minnesota United’s No. 1 goalkeeper over the past four seasons.
St. Clair produced 11 clean sheets in 2025 and will certainly be an upgrade at the position with Inter Miami seeking a repeat.
Robin Lod, Chicago Fire
Another Minnesota United player was on the move this winter with Robin Lod joining the Chicago Fire.
Lod, who registered 41 goals and 28 assists over seven seasons with the Loons, now heads to Gregg Berhalter’s Fire. The Finnish international is a live-wire in attack and will bring plenty of versatility and flexibility to Chicago’s attacking front.
Berhalter helped the Fire break their playoff drought in 2025 and with Lod coming into the mix for 2026, expectations will be high for Chicago to take another step forward.
Jacob Shaffelburg, LAFC
After eight seasons in Toronto and Nashville, 26-year-old Jacob Shaffelburg is heading to the bright lights of Los Angeles.
LAFC acquired Shaffelburg from Nashville SC this winter, bringing the dynamic winger to the West Coast. Nashville SC provided the opportunity for Shaffelburg to take the next step in his development, and he rewarded them with 15 goals and 11 assists.
As he hopes to stay in the Canadian men’s national team picture for the World Cup, Shaffelburg will now look to quickly translate his production over to one of the league’s best attacking units.
Drake Callender, Minnesota United
Minnesota United may have lost Dayne St. Clair, but they did bring in one of the league’s better goalkeepers to replace him.
Drake Callender joined the Loons from Charlotte FC, bringing more than 100 appearances with him to St. Paul. Callender mainly featured for Inter Miami over the past four seasons before eventually heading to Charlotte FC, where he served as a backup.
Although he may not get the praise that St. Clair receives, Callender will quickly jump back into a No. 1 role with the Loons.
Tai Baribo, DC United
Back-to-back double digit seasons for Tai Baribo wasn’t enough to keep him in Philadelphia.
Baribo made the move to DC United from the Union this winter in a deal worth reportedly $4.6 million. The Israel men’s national team forward led Philadelphia with 19 goals in 2025 and ultimately finished his Union career with 35 goals over three seasons.
Now he heads to DC United, looking to fill the gap left by Christian Benteke, who moved to UAE club Al-Wahda this offseason. The positive thing for Baribo though is, he won’t have as many attacking players fighting him for minutes unlike in Philadelphia.
Cade Cowell, New York Red Bulls
Two years after moving to Liga MX from MLS, Cade Cowell is also back in the United States.
Cowell joined the New York Red Bulls on loan for the 2026 campaign, seeking to get back amongst the goals. A former San Jose Earthquakes homegrown, Cowell produced 12 goals for Chivas since 2024, but ultimately struggled during the Apertura season last fall.
He will now be among the favorites to start in Michael Bradley’s attack, bringing a strong work rate and engine to the squad.
Other Familiar Faces in New Places
Luca De La Torre, Charlotte FC
Lewis Morgan, San Diego FC
Hassani Dotson, Seattle Sounders
Brooklyn Raines, New England Revolution
Daniel Edelman, St. Louis CITY SC
Sean Nealis, DC United
Jonathan Sirois, FC Dallas
Justin Haak, LA Galaxy
Griffin Yow, New England Revolution
Justin Che, New York Red Bulls
William Yarbrough, Toronto FC
Dante Sealy, Colorado Rapids
Tyler Miller, Charlotte FC
Sean Johnson, DC United
Jayden Nelson, Austin FC
David Ayala, Inter Miami
Braian Ojeda, Orlando City
Brandon Bye, Portland Timbers
Cole Bassett, Portland Timbers
Tomás Chancalay, Minnesota United
Brayan Vera, CF Montreal