14 clubs headed to Coachella Valley for preseason
MLS clubs began announcing their preseason plans, with 14 heading to the Coachella Valley Invitational from Feb. 5 - Feb. 15. Participating teams include Austin FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC, Sporting Kansas City, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Minnesota United, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Diego FC, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and St. Louis CITY SC.
Minnesota United transfer Miguel Tapias to Chivas
Minnesota United have transferred center back Miguel “Micky” Tapias to LIGA MX side Chivas. The 27-year-old Mexican defender spent two seasons with Minnesota, arriving ahead of the 2023 campaign from LIGA MX's Pachuca. The Loons remain with Michael Boxall, Carlos Harvey and Jefferson Diaz as key returning center backs.
The MLS SuperDraft isn’t the key to building a MLS Cup contender. But it can still help. Even as roster-building mechanisms evolve, the SuperDraft remains a pathway that can quickly benefit a club looking to round out a squad.
Ahead of Friday's 2025 MLS SuperDraft, let’s look at the Top 5 players from the last five draft classes, dating back to and including the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
His time in MLS may have been short, but Moïse Bombito made his mark.
After the Colorado Rapids selected him No. 3 overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, the center back quickly developed into a key starter in 2023 and 2024. Through 29 MLS appearances, he got into the Canadian men’s national team and earned an eventual record-breaking move to Ligue1’s OGC Nice.
Short, sweet, and he made every minute count.
And, oh yeah, Colorado got a club-record fee of reportedly $7.7 million, which could reach $10.7 million with add-ons while retaining a sell-on percentage.
He's far from the only Canadian standout from recent SuperDrafts; others include Tajon Buchanan (2019, New England Revolution), Dayne St. Clair (2019, Minnesota United) and Alistair Johnston (2020, Nashville SC).
Orlando City SC have history of striking gold with forwards in the SuperDraft. First, it was Cyle Larin as a hot-scoring striker out of the SuperDraft — then, in 2020, it was Daryl Dike. Now, It’s Duncan McGuire.
While a reported English Premier League move fell short ahead of the 2024 season, McGuire’s rise since Orlando selected him as No. 6 overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Creighton University has been outstanding.
Through 56 MLS regular season appearances, McGuire has 23g/6a and, in August, signed to stay in Purple and Gold through 2027, with an option for 2028.
It may be McGuire's moment now, but Dike's short foray was unmissable.
Drafted No. 5 in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Virginia, Dike made 35 regular season appearances with the Lions, scoring 18g/7a.
That quick tally earned him his first of 10 USMNT caps and a transfer to English Championship side West Bromwich Albion. Orlando received a reported $9.5 million transfer fee, performance-based bonuses and 20% of any future sale.
The SuperDraft striker pathway has become Lions lore, but can they do it again in 2025?
Few goalkeepers from the SuperDraft have settled in MLS, and fewer have found their way to the USMNT.
Real Salt Like legend Nick Rimando might top that list, but Patrick Schulte is carving his path with Columbus Crew. Since the Crew selected him No. 12 out of Saint Louis University in 2022, his club has won MLS Cup 2023, reached this year's Concacaf Champions Cup Final, and lifted the 2024 Leagues Cup title.
In two MLS regular seasons, he’s played 58 games, kept 17 clean sheets, and even got a chance to rep the Red, White and Blue at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. A pretty solid start.
Charlotte FC’s leading scorer in 2024, Patrick Agyemang took the long road through the MLS SuperDraft. Starting off in NCAA DIII, he earned a DI shot with the University of Rhode Island in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.
In his first season as a critical piece to Charlotte’s attack, the No. 12 selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft scored 10g/5a in 31 appearances, only 19 of which were starts.
With Charlotte’s attack under construction after not picking up Pep Biel’s option, Agyemang might have a bigger role in 2025. And if he keeps it up, both Ghana and the USMNT may come calling.
Columbus Crew re-sign Evan Bush The Columbus Crew have re-signed goalkeeper Evan Bush through the 2025 MLS season. The veteran keeper returns for his 14th MLS season and his fifth with the Crew after making two appearances in 2024. Before the 38-year-old's Columbus tenure, he spent time with CF Montréal and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Chicago Fire sign Omari Glasgow: Chicago Fire FC have signed winger Omari Glasgow through 2026 with options for 2027-28. The 21-year-old Guyana international joins the first team after 15g/13a in 62 matches across all competitions with Chicago Fire II.
Houston Dynamo sign Jimmy Maurer: Houston Dynamo FC have signed goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer through 2026, bringing the veteran goalkeeper to a new side of the Copa Tejas from FC Dallas. Maurer, 36, spent the last eight seasons with Dallas, posting 16 clean sheets in 66 appearances.
- Matt Doyle unveiled Part II of his transfer primer, breaking down five Eastern Conference teams to watch this winter.
- Charles Boehm looks at Chris Henderson's desire to "build something really special" with Atlanta.
Good luck out there. Keep your roots in sight, no matter how high you grow.
