The Secondary Transfer Window closed Thursday evening in MLS. The things, they are happening. Lots of 'em. They are still happening.
Here's the latest.
FRIDAY, 2:50 pm ET: Chicago sign midfielder Federico Navarro from Talleres
Chicago made the Federico Navarro signing official on Friday afternoon, announcing that they've acquired the defensive midfielder from Argentine side CA Talleres.
Navarro joins through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026. He'll occupy an international roster spot and a U22 Initiative slot, the Fire's second such signing after they previously landed 17-year-old Colombian striker Jhon Jader Duran.
Navarro has notched 52 appearances for Talleres and is renowned for his ability to break up plays and cover ground. The signing should help balance Chicago’s midfield and is a former Argentine youth international.
FRIDAY, 2 pm ET: Cincinnati, GM Gerard Nijkamp part ways
FC Cincinnati and GM Gerard Nijkamp have parted ways, the club announced Friday.
Nijkamp originally was appointed during the summer of 2019, amid the team's ill-fated expansion season. During his time in charge, Nijkamp appointed head coaches Ron Jans and Jaap Stam, while signing players like Jurgen Locadia, Brenner, Lucho Acosta and many more.
The club currently sit 10th in the East after finishing bottom of the league in 2019 and 2020.
FRIDAY, 1 pm ET: Vancouver loan Theo Bair to Norwegian promotion chasers
The Vancouver Whitecaps have loaned forward Theo Bair to Norwegian side Hamarkameratene for the remainder of the 2021 season, the club announced Friday.
The 21-year-old Canadian international is in his third MLS season, compiling three goals and two assists in 18 starts and 39 appearances across all competitions.
Based in the town of Hamar, HamKam currently sit atop the 1. divisjon table 13 games into the 2021 season. Managed by former Norwegian international Kjetil Rekdal, the club’s 30-match schedule runs through November 27.
FRIDAY, 12:20 pm ET: Galaxy continue signing spree
The LA Galaxy have signed defender Niko Hamalainen on loan from QPR, adding another depth piece as the club put the finishing touches on a busy summer.
Hamalainen, a left back, has spent much of the last few years on loan, including a stop with LAFC in 2019. He made only three appearances.
He has seven caps with the Finnish national team and is a dual-national, also holding American citizenship.
FRIDAY, 12:15 pm ET: Cincy add defender Tyler Blackett
FC Cincinnati have signed defender Tyler Blackett on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest, the club announced Friday.
Blackett, 27, made 14 appearances in the Championship last season with Forest. He is a product of Manchester United's academy and has featured in both the Championship and Premier League, though most of his appearances have come in the second tier with Forest and Reading. He also spent time on loan at Celtic.
If the name sounds familiar you are remembering correctly: Cincy were close to signing him in the past, but a deal never quite got over the line. He previously played for Jaap Stam (at Reading) during his time in England.
FRIDAY, 12:15 pm ET: Vancouver acquire Florian Jungwirth in trade with San Jose
The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired defender Florian Jungwirth in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes, the clubs announced Friday. San Jose receive $200,000 General Allocation Money, with another $100,000 GAM in performance-based incentives.
Jungwirth, 32, joined San Jose in 2017 and was a first-choice starter during his tenure at the club, with 124 appearances over four-and-a-half seasons. He had 13 starts this year.
FRIDAY, 12 pm ET: Official: Sebastien Ibeagha traded to LAFC
As reported an hour ago, it's now official: Sebastien Ibeagha has been traded from NYCFC to LAFC.
FRIDAY, 11:20 am ET: Minnesota sign Honduran youth international
Minnesota United acquired midfielder Joseph Rosales on loan from CA Independiente de La Chorrera of the Liga Panameña de Fútbol on an 18-month loan, the club announced Friday.
Rosales, 20, played 37 games with CA Independiente where he had two goals in 37 appearances with the Panamanian side, including five appearances in the Concacaf Champions League.
Internationally, Rosales has competed for Honduras at the U-20 and U-23 level, most recently playing in the Tokyo Olympics where Honduras won one game in Group B, a 3-2 victory over New Zealand.
FRIDAY, 11:15 am ET: Sources: Sebastien Ibeagha traded to LAFC
LAFC have acquired defender Sebastien Ibeagha from NYCFC, sources confirmed to MLSsoccer.com. Kevin Baxter of the LA Times initially reported the news.
NYCFC will receive $150,000 GAM, with a further $50,000 GAM in incentives, sources add.
Ibeagha, 29, had been with NYCFC since 2018 but found minutes hard to come by over the last two seasons with Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot and James Sands first-choice options under Ronny Deila.
LAFC have struggled defensively of late, including a 4-1 loss to Sporting KC on Wednesday. Center back Eddie Segura is out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL, leaving the club thin in defense.
FRIDAY 10:45 am ET: Fire to add midfielder Federico Navarro
After transferring Przemyslaw Frankowski to French side RC Lens, the Fire stayed busy. The club signed midfielder Federico Navarro from Argentine Primera Division side Talleres, a source has confirmed to MLSsoccer.com's Jonathan Sigal, as initially reported by The Chicago Tribune’s Jeremy Mikula.
Navarro, 21, made 50 appearances for Talleres and is renowned for his ability to break up plays and cover ground. The signing should help balance Chicago’s midfield, with the Eastern Conference club allowing 28 goals through 14 games this year, which puts them third-from-bottom across MLS.
Navarro is the latest Talleres player to join an MLS club, with midfielder Tomas Pochettino a Designated Player for Austin FC and winger Franco Fragapane joining Minnesota United FC this summer.
FRIDAY, 10 am ET: ... so you're telling me there's still a chance?
Reminder: just because the window is closed doesn’t mean the news is done.
There are deals out there that are done but just haven’t been announced yet. As long as the paperwork was filed ahead of the deadline, then it got done before the window shut.
Not to be the bearer of false hope (hope is the most dangerous thing you can give a person) but there will certainly be more news to matriculate today and perhaps over the next few days, too.
FRIDAY, 9:15 am ET: Atlanta make big splash for Ligue 1 title-winner
Atlanta are still taking big swings.
The club signed forward Luiz Araujo as a Designated Player via a transfer from Ligue 1 side Lille OSC, with sources telling MLSsoccer.com the deal is worth around $12 million. They got it done just before last night's deadline.
Araujo, 25, had four goals and two assists in 28 appearances (17 starts) in Lille's Ligue 1 title-winning season last year. A product of Sao Paulo's famed academy, he joined Lille in 2017.
Alan Franco's contract was bought down with TAM, opening a DP spot for Araujo.
FRIDAY, 9 am ET: RBNY add Uruguay youth international defender
The New York Red Bulls signed defender Lucas Monzón from Danubio FC, the club announced Thursday night. He's on loan through 2022. The deal includes a purchase option.
Monzón, 19, signed with Danubio's first team in July 2020 and played 26 matches across all competitions during the 2020-21 season. Born in Jaguarão, Brazil, Monzón most recently appeared for Montevideo Wanderers, a first division Uruguayan club, on loan during the 2021-22 season.
Center back Aaron Long endured a season-ending injury earlier this year, while Andres Reyes has also missed time due to injury, leaving the club thin in central defense.
THURSDAY, 7:30 pm ET: Sounders announce pair of attacking arrivals
It was a busy close to the transfer window for the Seattle Sounders, with the club announcing the arrival of one young face from outside MLS and one league veteran to bolster their attack ahead of the second half of the season.
Seattle have signed 21-year-old attacker Léo Chú from Grêmio in the player's native Brazil on a four-year deal with an additional club option year as part of the league's U22 Initiative. Chú has made 38 professional appearances over the past three seasons for Grêmio while also having a stint on loan with Brazilian side Ceará Sporting Club, recording five goals across all competitions and becoming known for his pace and positional versatility that leaves him able to be deployed either centrally or on the wing.
Additionally, the Sounders announced the arrival of winger Nicolas Benezet via a trade with the Colorado Rapids that will see Seattle send $50,000 in General Allocation Money to the Rapids. Colorado can acquire an additional $50,000 in GAM if incentives are met.
THURSDAY, 7 pm ET: Sporting KC confirm Busio transfer to Venezia in club-record deal
After days and weeks of rumors, it's finally official: Sporting Kansas City homegrown midfielder Gianluca Busio is heading to Serie A side Venezia FC. Terms of the transfer were not disclosed but it was described by SKC as a "club-record deal."
Busio has long been considered one of the most talented prospects in the United States, coming up through Sporting KC's youth academy and first breaking in with the senior team in 2018. Since then, he's put up eight goals and nine assists in 70 appearances across all competitions.
“Gianluca has embodied all of the core values we look for in a player,” Sporting Kansas City head coach and sporting director Peter Vermes said in Thursday's release. “He has consistently put the team first while demonstrating tremendous professionalism and an unwavering commitment to improving his game and helping the club win. Gianluca is a special talent with outstanding character, and we wish him nothing but the best at Venezia.”
THURSDAY, 5:30 pm ET: Brugge closing in on Buchanan; No deal done yet
Club Brugge have had an offer of around $7 million agreed in principle with the New England Revolution to acquire Canadian international Tajon Buchanan, per sources, though no deal is yet done. The player and club have not agreed to personal terms, with two Bundesliga clubs remaining in the race. The situation is fluid.
The deal would include a loan back to the Revolution for the rest of the season.
Buchanan, 22, was just named Young Player of the Tournament at the Gold Cup after a stellar month with Canada. He scored his country's lone goal in their 2-1 loss to Mexico in the semifinal.
THURSDAY, 4:45 pm ET: Official: Jeremy Ebobisse joins San Jose
Jeremy Ebobisse is officially the newest member of the San Jose Earthquakes, joining from Portland for $1.167 GAM.
Ebobisse, 24, had made 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Timbers so far in 2021, scoring four goals in 947 minutes. He's expected to be San Jose's starting center forward.
“We couldn’t be more excited about bringing Jeremy to San Jose,” San Jose technical director Chris Leitch said in a club statement. “Jeremy is an exciting young player with significant MLS experience and a proven track record for scoring goals."
“The decision to trade a player that’s had Jeremy Ebobisse’s impact can never be taken lightly," Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson added. "We know what he has meant to our team, club, and community. Our partnership with Jeremy has always been true to what’s best for all parties. This decision allows Jeremy to continue pursuing his career objectives while putting this club in a stronger position to manage its roster commitments going forward through acquiring a considerable amount of allocation money. I want to thank Jeremy for everything he contributed to make the Timbers a better club on and off the field during his four-and-a-half years in Portland.”
THURSDAY, 4 pm ET: Whitecaps sign Pedro Vite to U22 initiative deal
The Vancouver Whitecaps stay busy.
A few days after officially acquiring Ryan Gauld to a DP deal, Vancouver officially acquired Ecuadorian youth international Pedro Vite from Independiente del Valle.
Vite, 19, has three goals and six assists over 25 appearances in his senior club career thus far, including appearing in 10 matches in the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition.
Vancouver love his creative side, particularly his vision, playmaking and positioning at his young age. He can play on the wing or through the center.
“Pedro is a young player who at only 19 years of age has already shown tremendous upside in the early stages of his professional career,” sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster said in a club statement. “With his unique skills, especially his vision for the final pass, we believe that he will be a great addition to our roster. But he is a very young player, so we need to be patient with Pedro and help him to adapt to a new country and new league first.”
THURSDAY, 3 pm ET: Official: Florian Valot traded to FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati have acquired midfielder Florian Valot in a trade with the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $50,000 General Allocation Money. RBNY could receive a further $50,000 GAM if performance-based incentives are hit.
Valot, 28, made 42 appearances with the Red Bulls over the last four years, though missed significant time with multiple ACL tears. Last season, he appeared in all 23 of the club’s games including 17 starts. He has five goals and nine assists in his MLS career.
THURSDAY, 2:50 pm ET: Official: Frankowski transferred to RC Lens
Chicago Fire FC have transferred midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski to French side RC Lens, the club announced Thursday. Sources tell MLSsoccer.com that the transfer fee is in the region of $3 million.
Frankowski, 26, had 10 goals and 13 assists in 63 appearances with the Fire, including two goals and three assists in 13 matches this year.
“On behalf of the entire club, I would like to thank Przemysław for his contributions to the Chicago Fire,” sporting director Georg Heitz said in a club statement. “This move demonstrates that young players can develop within our environment and contribute in a meaningful way before transitioning to a top-five league in the world. He has fully earned this opportunity and we wish him and his family all the best as they embark on this new chapter.”
THURSDAY, 1:45 pm ET: Lionel Messi to depart Barcelona!!!!
This has nothing to do with MLS, but I feel contractually obliged to mention that Barcelona just announced Lionel Messi won't be returning to the club.
Well, I don't have a contract. Morally-obliged? Obliged by the #content???
Don't expect Leo to be signing an MLS contract in the immediate future, but plenty of MLS clubs are having fun with the news.
THURSDAY, 1:05 pm ET: Sounders chasing Gremio winger?
The Seattle Sounders are reportedly looking to Brazil for a big deadline day addition. According to Niko Moreno of Pulso Sports, Seattle are closing in on Gremio winger Leo Chu.
Chu, 21, is a product of Gremio's famed academy. He has made 51 appearances across all competitions in his young career, scoring six goals and adding nine assists.
The news follows an earlier report this morning suggesting Seattle had signed Nico Benezet, according to Benezet's representation. The club expect to get Nico Lodeiro back from injury imminently, as they hope the worst of their injury crisis is behind them. Stefan Frei and Jordan Morris remain out.
THURSDAY, 1 pm ET: Sources: Rapids on verge of signing Brazilian left back
Brazilian left back Lucas Esteves is completing a medical today ahead of his loan from Palmeiras to the Colorado Rapids, sources confirm to MLSsoccer.com. Jeff Carlisle of ESPN was first to report the medical.
Esteves, 21, is an athletic, technical and defensively sound left back. He is set to join just as Sam Vines' move from Colorado to Royal Antwerp becomes official.
THURSDAY, 12:30 pm ET: Sources: SKC chasing Italian midfielder Jose Mauri
Sporting KC are closing in on signing Italian midfielder Jose Mauri, sources tell MLSsoccer.com. He is currently a free agent.
Mauri, 25, is a former Italian youth international. He featured for Serie A clubs like AC Milan, Parma and Empoli in his young career and was most recently with Talleres in Argentina.
The midfielder was playing in Italy as recently as 2018-19, making five league appearances with Milan.
SKC were hopeful to make additions before the deadline as midfielder Gianluca Busio heads to Venezia FC. The Gold Cup winner is on his way to Italy to do a medical and complete his club-record transfer.
THURSDAY, 12:15 pm ET: Galaxy sign Serbian international forward Dejan Joveljic
The LA Galaxy added another big attacking piece, officially acquiring forward Dejan Joveljic. The forward signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.
Joveljic joins for a reported fee of around $4 million and is registered as a U22 Initiative signing.
The 21-year-old, who joins from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Wolfsberger AC in Austria, making 46 appearances across all competitions and scoring 20 goals. He joined Frankfurt in 2019 and has recorded one goal in 10 appearances for the German club, though spent much of his time away on loan, including part of the 2019-20 season with Belgian side Anderlecht.
Joveljic has played through the center fairly exclusively in his young career, ditto for Chicharito. Greg Vanney has mainly preferred a 4-3-3 system during his time as manager. When he's played with two forwards, it's been in a 3-5-2, but that would make it difficult to incorporate wingers Samuel Grandsir and Kevin Cabral. How will he integrate Joveljic into the team with a healthy Chicharito?
THURSDAY, 11:10 am ET: Jeremy Ebobisse on the move to San Jose
Another blockbuster trade in the Western Conference.
As reported by Steven Goff of the Washington Post and The Athletic's Paul Tenorio on Wednesday night, the San Jose Earthquakes will acquire forward Jeremy Ebobisse from the Portland Timbers for $1.167 GAM.
A move for Ebobisse had been a likely outcome for some time, sources told MLSsoccer.com. It was expected by all parties that a transfer to Europe would have materialized by this time, but the COVID-19 pandemic hampered those expectations. In the meantime, a number of MLS teams called Portland about the forward before the club ultimately agreed to a deal with San Jose.
Ebobisse wants to play as a No. 9, rather than as a winger as he had often in Portland. The club understood that desire and helped facilitate a move.
In San Jose, Ebobisse will likely be given every opportunity to start through the center. His work-rate and pressing ability should make him a solid fit in Matias Almeyda's high-octane defensive scheme. San Jose currently sit three points below the playoff line in the Western Conference after 17 games played, the exact midpoint of the 2021 season.
Questions were asked when Ebobisse didn't dress for Portland's match against San Jose (coincidental matchup!), which ended in a 1-1 draw. Here's what Timbers head coach Gio Savarese said after the match:
"I can [only] comment so much about it because I think the club is preparing to be able to make an announcement. He’s a player that means a lot to us, he’s a player that I saw grow in the club. He’s a player that is very dear to all of us and I think sometimes there’s decisions that are made that not always all are on an agreement. But also this league sometimes as well, [it] has some things in regards to the way salaries ... that have to be managed that makes it difficult as well."
THURSDAY, 11 am ET: Royal Antwerp announce Sam Vines deal
As had been reported weeks ago, the deal was made official by Antwerp on Thursday: Sources say the deal could be worth up to $2 million for the Colorado Rapids and includes a sell-on clause.
Vines, 22, arrived in Belgium to complete his medical this week after helping guide the US men's national team to Gold Cup glory, beating Mexico in the final Sunday night.
The homegrown defender broke into the first team as their first choice left back in 2019 and didn't look back. He made 53 MLS appearances and earned his senior debut with the USMNT. Vines signed a five-year contract extension prior to the season starting, but it was always likely he'd be transferred to Europe early in the contract when the right opportunity presented itself.
Antwerp finished second during the regular season of the Belgian league last year and qualified for the playoff round of the Europa League.
THURSDAY, 10:05 am ET: Dynamo acquire midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla
As had been reported but now official: The Houston Dynamo have signed midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla on loan from FC Cartagena in Spain’s LaLiga 2.
The deal has a purchase option, according to the Spanish club.
“Adalberto is a player whose progress we’ve been tracking in Spain for quite some time, and someone who we got to know even better during his time in Houston for the Gold Cup,” said senior vice president and general manager Matt Jordan via a club release. “His quality as a player and his character as a person will make him a great fit with our group as we continue to strengthen our roster during this transfer window.”
Dynamo defender Jose Bizama has been loaned to USL Championship side Charlotte Independence in a corresponding move.
THURSDAY, 10 am ET: Sources: Florian Valot heading to Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati agreed to acquire midfielder Florian Valot from the New York Red Bulls, sources confirmed Wednesday night. The Cincinnati Inquirer's Pat Brennan first reported the deal.
Valot was on the bench for the Red Bulls on Wednesday when they played ... FC Cincinnati. He was an unused sub. Talks around a potential deal for Valot became advanced earlier in the week.
Valot, 28, has made 42 appearances with the Red Bulls over the last four years, though missed significant time with multiple ACL tears. Last season, he appeared in all 23 of the club’s games including 17 starts. He has five goals and nine assists in his MLS career.
The midfielder has found playing time difficult to come by in RBNY’s deep midfield group this year, playing just 93 minutes over three appearances. Valot, who can play any central midfield role, joins a Cincinnati group that includes the likes of Luciano Acosta, Yuya Kubo, Allan Cruz and more.
THURSDAY, 9:45 am ET: Nico Benezet to Seattle?
Colorado Rapids winger Nico Benezet is heading to the Seattle Sounders, according to his representation Agence Kemari.
Benezet, 30, has just one start this season. He originally came to MLS with Toronto FC in 2019 and started MLS Cup that year. TFC opted not to keep him and the Rapids picked him up the following offseason, sending EA Guingamp a $500,000 transfer fee and TFC $50,000 GAM.
The Sounders have endured a hellacious injury situation all season, though saw Nico Lodeiro return from injury Wednesday night. Benezet will add to options underneath forward Raul Ruidiaz in Brian Schmetzer's 3-4-2-1, or can help with flexibility to revert to a 4-2-3-1 the club had mostly played in past years.
