The MLS NEXT Pro offseason is heating up.
Here's a closer look at some of the headlining news items from the past week:
Huntsville City FC took a key step forward in its development as a franchise in 2023 and the Eastern Conference club began its preparation for 2024 on a positive note this week.
Forward Azaad Liadi, midfielders Isaiah Johnston and Ollie Wright, and defender Fernando Ciceron were the four Huntsville City FC players who saw their contract options exercised ahead of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced.
Liadi led the club with 12 goals this past campaign, scoring the first goal in club history and becoming the first Huntsville player to register a hat trick. Wright was tied for the club lead with six assists in 2023 while also scoring one goal in his 25 appearances.
“Azaad will come back to lead the line for Huntsville after 12 goals last season which is a good return,” Huntsville City FC Director of Soccer Operations Liam Doyle said. “I think there is more to come from him too in terms of output, he’s a dynamic forward who can really help this group grow next season as well.
“Ollie Wright was the fans' player of the year, he is a talented midfielder who started the season with a goal against Cincinnati,” Doyle added. “He also played in a number of different roles across the midfield. He will be a great asset for all of the young players coming into the squad.”
Johnston enjoyed a positive season after being Huntsville City FC’s first player signing last winter. The Canadian midfielder made 20 appearances (15 starts), and finished the season with three goals and two assists.
The 19-year-old Ciceron started in all eight games in which he appeared after joining the club in July.
“Isaiah Johnston captained the team a lot last season and is an anchor in midfield, we expect him and Ollie to lead the team to new heights,” Doyle said.
“Fernando is a 19-year-old left centerback who came into the team mid-season and did well, I think it’s always tough for players to do that, but he fit in seamlessly.”
Huntsville City FC finished 2023 in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, only three points out of the final playoff spot.
Huntsville City FC took a key step forward in its development as a franchise in 2023 and the Eastern Conference club began its preparation for 2024 on a positive note this week.
Forward Azaad Liadi, midfielders Isaiah Johnston and Ollie Wright, and defender Fernando Ciceron were the four Huntsville City FC players who saw their contract options exercised ahead of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced.
Liadi led the club with 12 goals this past campaign, scoring the first goal in club history and becoming the first Huntsville player to register a hat trick. Wright was tied for the club lead with six assists in 2023 while also scoring one goal in his 25 appearances.
“Azaad will come back to lead the line for Huntsville after 12 goals last season which is a good return,” Huntsville City FC Director of Soccer Operations Liam Doyle said. “I think there is more to come from him too in terms of output, he’s a dynamic forward who can really help this group grow next season as well.
“Ollie Wright was the fans' player of the year, he is a talented midfielder who started the season with a goal against Cincinnati,” Doyle added. “He also played in a number of different roles across the midfield. He will be a great asset for all of the young players coming into the squad.”
Johnston enjoyed a positive season after being Huntsville City FC’s first player signing last winter. The Canadian midfielder made 20 appearances (15 starts), and finished the season with three goals and two assists.
The 19-year-old Ciceron started in all eight games in which he appeared after joining the club in July.
“Isaiah Johnston captained the team a lot last season and is an anchor in midfield, we expect him and Ollie to lead the team to new heights,” Doyle said.
“Fernando is a 19-year-old left centerback who came into the team mid-season and did well, I think it’s always tough for players to do that, but he fit in seamlessly.”
Huntsville City FC finished 2023 in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, only three points out of the final playoff spot.
MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner Remi Cabral headlines Colorado Rapids 2’s end of season moves
Colorado Rapids 2 will have one of MLS NEXT Pro’s deadliest goalscorers back in their ranks for 2024.
Remi Cabral’s 2024 option was exercised by the Western Conference club on Monday. Cabral registered 19 goals for Rapids 2 last season, which earned him the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot award alongside NYCFC II’s Matthew Myers and Orlando City B’s Jack Lynn.
Cabral is the brother of Rapids’ first team attacker Kevin and will enter his second season as a member of the club. The 24-year-old Frenchman averaged one goal every 74 minutes this season in his 20 appearances for Rapids 2.
The club are set to lose midfielders Blake Malone, Dillon Serna and Marlon Vargas, whose contracts expire at year’s end. Vargas led Rapids 2 with 10 assists, while registering the fourth-most goals (5) and second-most minutes played (2,001).
Malone scored four goals and added two assists in 1,924 minutes played (fourth-most among Rapids 2 players). Serna registered four assists to go along with one goal in 17 appearances (four starts).
Rapids 2 also declined the options on Lars Helleren and Jackson Walti while Daouda Amadou and Caique de Brito’s respective loan spells will end on Dec. 31.
Tacoma Defiance signs Snyder Brunell, Yu Tsukanome to MLS NEXT Pro contracts
Tacoma Defiance signed two promising prospects ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
Midfielder Snyder Brunell and forward Yu Tsukanome signed with the Western Conference club after respective chapters of their careers to date.
Brunel, 16, made 16 appearances (nine starts) for the Defiance in 2023, scoring one goal and adding three assists in league play. The Kirkland, Washington native also previously made 22 appearances in MLS NEXT for the Sounders academy, contributing four goals.
“Snyder has impressed since joining the Academy back in 2021,” said Sounders FC Technical Director Henry Brauner. “He made a tough but beneficial decision to leave his former club and challenge himself at the highest level within the Sounders FC Academy, and we have been nothing but pleased with his growth under our staff. He has fully earned his opportunity to begin his professional career with Tacoma Defiance and we look forward to his continued development along our player pathway.”
The 22-year-old Tsukanome signed with the Defiance after a 2023 National Premier Soccer League season with Dakota Fusion FC. He scored 16 goals in 10 appearances, winning the 2023 NPSL Golden Boot Award.
A Saitama, Japan native, Tsukanome was named to the 2023 NPSL National XI, NPSL Midwest Region XI and NPSL North Conference XI.
“We are very excited to add Yu to the Defiance roster for 2024,” said Sounders FC Director of Development Wade Webber. “He impressed us while on trial last season with his technical capacity and tactical flexibility across any of the attacking positions, as well as his willingness to aggressively defend from the front. We look forward to helping him develop his capacity to influence games and be part of a dynamic Defiance squad next season.”
The Defiance finished the regular season in second place in the Western Conference, totaling 57 points in 28 matches played.
North Texas SC acquires winger Abdoul Zanne on season-long loan
North Texas SC bolstered its attacking options ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Abdoul Zanne has joined the Western Conference club on a season-long loan from ASEC Mimosas, the club announced Thursday. North Texas SC also holds an option to exercise a permanent transfer on Zanne’s contract following the conclusion of his 2024 loan.
“Abdoul is an exciting attacking left sided player that adds a real vertical threat for us,” said North Texas SC Head Coach John Gall. “He has the mentality that we are looking for and is going to be a valuable piece to our puzzle. The speedy winger brings experience that will certainly benefit the group.”
The 20-year-old Ivory Coast native joins North Texas SC after spending two seasons on loan with USL Championship side Loudoun United FC. He joined Loudoun originally during the 2022 season, scoring two goals and adding three assists in 26 appearances.
Zanne rejoined the Virginia-based club in 2023, totaling 1,250 minutes played and one assist in 28 appearances.
North Texas SC will be seeking a playoff berth in 2024 after barely missing out in 2023.
Sporting KC II inks Nati Clarke to MLS NEXT Pro deal for 2024
Sporting Kansas City II also added to its roster in the form of a versatile full back.
SKC academy product Nati Clarke signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract for 2024, the club announced Thursday. Clarke, who can play both left and right back, featured heavily in Benny Feilhaber’s squad this past season.
Clarke started in 18 of his 19 regular season appearances, leading all SKC academy players in starts, appearances, minutes (1,589), and assists (2). He originally joined the SKC academy in 2016 with the Under-12s and since has worked his way up to SKC II.
Clarke has represented the United States at the U-15 youth level, notably featuring in the 2019 UEFA U-15 Development Tournament.
SKC II reached the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs in 2023 but suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Austin FC II.
