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GOAL takes a look at which of MLS' brightest stars could move to Europe in the January window

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami were one of the first clubs in MLS to feel the impact of the January's incoming transfer window this offseason. Diego Gomez, one of the team's young rising players and a Paraguay international, is joining Brighton in the English Premier League for a reported $18 million next month. The move is well-earned, with the 21-year-old having a breakout season. Now, the question that follows is: Who's next?

Gomez's move follows a growing pathway in the league, where MLS is becoming a stepping stone for young talent before they make the next jump in their career, whether that be to Europe or the top-tiers of South America. On top of Gomez, in 2024, we saw U.S. youth international Caleb Wiley move to Chelsea in England, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Thiago Almada make the leap from Atlanta to Botafogo – where he became a Copa Libertadores champion recently. Then, there's domestic talent like Cavan Sullivan, who signed the largest Homegrown deal in MLS history with the Philadelphia Union, but within the contract, signed a clause to move to Manchester City at age 18.

MLS has become a league where young players, if given the right tools and access, can flourish – 2024 proved that.

However, there are still gems of players that have yet to make the leap, despite rumors circling that they could. GOAL takes a look at five potential candidates within the league that could be set for their next big move this Winter.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowIMGANAdilson Malanda, Charlotte FC

Malanda had one of the most impressive seasons among all defenders in MLS in 2024. The 22-year-old center back broke out under manager Dean Smith, helping lead Charlotte FC to the second-best defensive record in all of MLS. As a result of his performances, he now has eyes from all over Europe on him.

In July, CLT inked him to a new contract through 2026 with a club option through 2027, but in this world, money talks — and he could bring in a substantial amount on a transfer fee.

Originally signed from Rodez AF in Ligue 2, Malanda was brought into MLS with only 36 senior matches under his belt as a professional. However, he has blossomed into one of the brightest talents across the league.

General Manager Zoran Krneta announced in the summer that the club had received offers in the summer from Europe's top five leagues for the Frenchman, but they declined the pursuit, instead handing him a new deal and building their defense around him.

In 2024, Malanda made 32 appearances for CLT, while winning 58.1 percent of his aerial duels, recording 81 defensive clearances and scoring one goal during the regular season. It's level of performance that could have teams from abroad looking his way once again.

AdvertisementIMGANJohn Tolkin, New York Red Bulls

Tolkin has been touted for a move to Europe for the past two seasons, but a January transfer now seems inevitable.

The 22-year-old U.S. international recently led the New York Red Bulls to their first MLS Cup appearance since 2008, with the left back recording the game-winning assist in the Conference Semifinals, as well. Over the summer, he represented the USMNT at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making four appearances – all of which were starts – as the U.S. progressed to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

He's evolved into one of the best set-piece takers in MLS, while growing into a versatile fullback who excels in the attack in transition. Across four seasons as a professional, the 22-year-old has amassed seven goals and 15 assists — the second-most assists by a defender in club history.

RBNY Head of Sport Jochen Schneider recently admitted that it's only a matter of time before Tolkin departs for Europe — bringing a January move closer to reality than not.

“This is not a secret,” Schneider said. “We had the exit interviews with the players… and without asking John Tolkin for permission, I can tell you what we’ve spoken with him about [it]. I said, ‘Listen, I want you to retire here at Red Bull Arena, and we put No. 47 [to the rafters].’ But I know that is not going to happen with your quality, with your ambitions," he told amNY.

“I know you will play in Europe. When the day will come, I do not know. It has to be the right club, it has to be the right proposal, it has to be a fit for every party. But it’s clear that you will one day go to Europe. If it will be in January, if it will be on July 25, if it will be after he played the World Cup for the US Men’s National Team, I don’t know. But the time will come. The most important thing is that he’s focused on his game here and then it will be, without a question, that he will go to Europe.”

AmNY reported an unnamed Bundesliga side has been tracking Tolkin for the past two seasons. It will be interesting to see if the left back ends up in Germany or elsewhere at the close of the winter transfer window.

IMAGNDiego Luna, Real Salt Lake

Winner of MLS' 2024 Young Player of the Year award, Luna is widely-regarded as one of the brightest up-and-coming talents in American soccer. A U.S. youth international, he's a creative winger who can invert into the attacking positions of the midfield in transition.

Aged 21, Luna had a breakout 2024 season where he scored eight goals and recorded 12 assists across 31 regular season appearances for Real Salt Lake. In transition, he was fouled 32 times, while in the attack, he registered 55 total scoring attempts.

As a result of his on-pitch brilliance, he's become a hot commodity in the transfer market.

English Championship side Leeds United, who have U.S. international Brenden Aaronson on their roster, have reportedly "explored conditions of a transfer" according to The Mirror this January, but concrete offers have yet to arrive for the 21-year-old.

Regardless, though, he is one of the best young attacking prospects within MLS and should be a name on a lot of club's radar over the Winter transfer window. In addition, he's a name to watch for Mauricio Pochettino's January camp roster — as he's not yet capped by the USMNT, and still has dual-national eligibility with Mexico, too.

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IMGANGabriel Pec, LA Galaxy

Winner of 2024 MLS Cup, Pec was MLS' Newcomer of the Year in 2024 — and he arrived with a bang.

Recording 16 goals and 14 assists across the regular season, and another five goal-contributions en-route to lifting the league's championship trophy with the LA Galaxy for the first time in a decade, the 23-year-old Brazilian was absolutely outstanding in his debut season. Brought in from Vasco Da Gama as a Young Designated Player, Pec signed a five-year contract with LA through 2028 after joining ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Reportedly signed for a fee of $10m, he was a cub-record transfer, surpassing the $9.4m they paid for Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez to La Liga side Sevilla in 2020. Now, after just one year stateside, he could be on his way to the biggest stage in Europe.

Speaking to GOAL through a translator prior to lifting MLS Cup, Pec expressed gratitude to LA for taking a chance on him — while manager Greg Vanney admitted there are realities around the transfer market, and if a fee were to arrive for the Brazilian, there would be contemplation.

“I know that LA Galaxy has a very rich history as one of the biggest clubs in MLS in terms of titles,” Pec said. “A lot of great players – [Zlatan] Ibrahimović, Chicharito, and David Beckham – have come here. This is a great pathway for me to continue growing in my career.”

“These players, if they do move on from us, [they potentially] go for big transfer fees that help reinvest back in the team, the academy, and the things that move our club and league forward,” Vanney added.

The manager was adamant though, that LA will fight to keep its core together.

“I think it’s important that we do everything we can to keep this group together,” Vanney told GOAL on Sunday. “It’s one of the reasons Will [Kuntz] and I targeted younger players – to build continuity and allow them to grow as a unit. That’s certainly a priority for us moving forward.”

Tammy Beaumont consolidates top spot after hitting run-a-ball 87 not out

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2021Mithali Raj has returned to the top five among women batters in ODIs after scoring 72 in her side’s eight-wicket loss to England in the first ODI in Bristol on Sunday.Raj, who gained three places on the table, got into the top five for the first time since October 2019, after adding 56 with Punam Raut and 65 with Deepti Sharma for the third and sixth wickets, respectively, during her 108-ball innings. It was a disappointing batting performance for India, who only put up 201 for 8, before going down by eight wickets with 91 balls remaining in the chase.Related

Mithali bemoans lack of strike rotation after India slip to defeat

Beaumont continues in 'ruthless and relentless' groove

England opener Tammy Beaumont consolidated her spot as the top-ranked ODI batter after gaining 26 rating points, her run-a-ball 87* leading England’s canter. Nat Sciver, with whom Beaumont added an unbroken stand of 119, hit 74 from as many deliveries to move up a place to No. 8.Among England’s bowlers, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who picked up 3 for 40 – including the wickets of Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur – gained four slots to sit at No. 10, while pacer Anya Shrubsole climbed three places up to No. 8 following returns of 2 of 33 in the match.The second of three ODIs between England and India will take place in Taunton on Wednesday, followed by the third in Worcester on July 3.

A prolific attacking player who Nottingham Forest tried to sign late in the summer transfer window has suffered a serious injury in training, according to a fresh update.

Nottingham Forest enjoy productive summer

It has been a solid start to the new Premier League season for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, who remain undefeated after picking up one win and two draws to date. It was a good summer overall in the transfer market too, as the Reds made significant additions to their squad.

Elliot Anderson arrived from Newcastle United in a big-money move, giving Nuno more quality and depth in the middle of the park, while Nikola Milenkovic came in from Fiorentina. There was shrewd cheaper business, too, as James Ward-Prowse sealed a season-long loan move from West Ham.

Away from incomings, Forest are also believed to be in contract talks with key man Morgan Gibbs-White, as they look to tie down arguably their most prized asset to an extension that keeps him at the City Ground for many more years to come.

The midfielder has received a call-up to England's current squad, which is richly deserved, but it does also mean that his profile continues to grow, increasing the chances of bigger clubs deciding to make a move for him in the near future.

The Reds did miss out on signing certain players throughout the summer, particularly in their chase for a new centre-forward with doubts around Chris Wood's age and Taiwo Awoniyi's fitness, but it appears they may have dodged a bullet on one of those targets.

Flamengo star Pedro suffers ACL injury

According to Globo [via Sport Witness], Nottingham Forest transfer target Pedro has suffered an ACL rupture during a training session on international duty with Brazil, after Forest saw a bid rejected late in the window.

The Flamengo striker is now expected to spend many months on the sidelines as he recovers from a serious setback, with his international colleagues sending him messages of support on social media after what is his second serious knee injury of his career.

This now feels like a massive bullet dodged for Forest, as harsh as that is in reality, with the idea of them splashing out big money on a player whose injuries look set to hold them back from their potential a nightmare scenario for any club.

It is a cruel blow for the player himself, who has made such a name for himself in his homeland, bagging 132 goals in 259 appearances for Flamengo, highlighting his relentless nature in front of goal. He has also netted once in six caps for Brazil, as well as scoring 30 goals in all competitions in 2024.

Pedro has even been given the nickname "The Finisher" by fans and pundits alike, given his goalscoring exploits in the final third, so it was understandable why Forest were so keen on bringing him to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest plotting new contract talks for "sensational" £70m star

Forest are planning to hold contract talks with one of their key players.

2 ByBrett Worthington Sep 5, 2024

It now remains to be seen how much of a toll this ACL injury will have on him, however, given the severity of such a setback hitting for a second time, so the Reds may have to think twice about going back in for him in the future, should the opportunity arise.

The deal, which sent eight future draft picks to Colorado, reflected a change in emphasis for one club, evolved approach for another

Zoom out, and it seemed like a bit of an absurd trade. Last week, Philadelphia and Colorado came to an agreement that would see the Union send eight MLS draft picks, spread out over three years, to the Rapids for an initial $350,000 in general allocation money. To the outsider, the Union were parting with up to eight valuable assets, for a middling financial return.

But what the trade really did was tell the story of the differing schools of thought around the MLS draft. Since its advent in 2000, the annual SuperDraft has been a reliable method for bringing in talent. But in recent years, with improving MLS academies and the increasing appeal of the league – both at home and abroad – the way teams have approached it has changed.

The transaction, then, was indicative of a far bigger picture.

"Philly have decided it's strategically not worth their while to dedicate resources to the collegiate draft because we're spending so much time and energy on our academy," Rapids Sporting Director Fran Taylor told GOAL. "We're just not in the most talent rich area. So we are open to recruitment opportunities at different parts of our development pathway."

GettyThe Colorado perspective

For the Rapids, this all made a lot of sense. For some time, they have used the SuperDraft more efficiently than most sides. That can come in multiple ways. In some instances, its the acquisition of high level talent that can make an impact in the first team – immediately or a few years down the line.

"I think it comes from a belief that there's just inefficiency in player development. It's hard to predict outcomes," Taylor said. "We live in a on a huge continent with 30 professional clubs, and we're all running around trying to find the best players…. and so you have these inefficiencies that are out there for teams to take advantage of."

This is a geographic issue, too. Colorado is, in the broader scheme of things, an isolated MLS club with a less rich talent pool to dip into than most. And while Taylor insisted that the Rapids have made strides in improving their academy setup, college soccer is vital for their improvement as a club.

"If it's not in our local market, we got to get on minimum two-and-a-half-hour flight to find a decent game of football someplace. It's just hard. So that makes it a challenge to keep tabs and properly evaluate and track talent across the U.S.," Taylor said.

And that's where the draft comes into play. Most of the players the Rapids bring in are known quantities. Sometimes Colorado has tracked them since their youth or club soccer days. In some cases, they have tried to sign them to academy deals, only to see them choose the college route instead.

"We might have tried to recruit in the academy space and they don't want to relocate for whatever reason, and they don't go to an MLS Academy, and then they go to college. So we have information on some of those guys," Taylor said.

But college consolidates all of them. There are very few surprises these days. The Rapids tend to keep tabs on all of the top freshmen. Older players are either siphoned out of the system, or too far down the line in their development to be worthy of a pick or roster spot, Taylor admitted.

Still, there are some gems. Colorado knows this well. They executed one of the best value-for-money moves in recent memory with the signature of Moise Bombito in 2023. The Canadian center back had an unusual career path. After spending his youth career in Montreal, he went to junior college, before rounding out his collegiate career in New Hampshire.

He then signed a Generation Adidas contract, and went 3rd overall to Colorado. After impressing in MLS, the Rapids sold him to Nice in a deal worth up to almost $11 million. Eight figures came off a player they had spent next to nothing on.

AdvertisementIMAGNPhiladelphia and their academy

The Philadelphia approach is markedly different. Look at the outgoing transfers from MLS clubs to Europe – which tends to be a solid indicator of player pools – and the results suggest that the Union academy is an excellent developer and exporter of talent. Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Cavan Sullivan, Mark McKenzie and others all came out of Philadelphia. Each of them routinely nets them a handsome transfer fee – which can then be reinvested.

"If we want to also drive our revenue concept by capitalizing on the investment we are doing in the academy with player sales. Then we need to adjust a little bit to what the transfer market requires from us," Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said.

And more importantly, they can be embedded into the first team. Quinn Sullivan and Jack McGlynn are just recent examples of academy talent who have made an impact at the top level. Others will undoubtedly come. A look at the Union's success in youth tournaments also paints a valuable picture. They have won two straight U17 Generation Adidas Cups. Their teams routinely beat top academies in Europe and South America. Piece it all together, and the picks simply aren't worth it.

"The answer is quite simple, because we have so much academy talent coming up that we almost don't have any place or any roster spots for additional players," Tanner said. "And we are of the opinion that our academy boys are superior."

And for the young players, the ones with resale value? The Union would rather them come out of their own academy, coached in their way, at the right age, to move on.

"The transfer market is getting younger and younger, and the main targets right now are somewhere in between 20 and 24 and that's a little bit late when you get the player for when he is already at 21 or 22," Tanner said. "You are losing a lot of development time because what you want to sell."

Still, Tanner admitted that this remains something of a wager. There is, he insisted, talent to be found coming out of the collegiate ranks.

"It's a gamble, a little bit. You can get a decent player, that's for sure," Tanner admitted.

Getty Images SportHow others treat the draft

But those two aren't the only MLS clubs with differing approaches. Charlotte FC, which came into the league in 2022, lies somewhere in the middle. They are perhaps more talent-rich than Colorado. But they have also used their draft picks in smart ways, rounding out their first team with a number of faces from the college ranks.

"[College has] been a key part of our roster build," Charlotte FC assistant GM Bobby Belair said. "We came in three years ago, and we found it really difficult to find domestic players… so our strategy was, 'Look, let's go out and be really good in the college game.'"

It has helped Charlotte become more sustainable, too. At first, Belair said, the club relied heavily on significant investment in international talent to compete. And while their expansion draft allowed for them to pick up a few pieces – and trade for some GAM cash – the selections from their early days in the college draft are starting to come good.

"Now we have starters that are coming through such as Andrew Privett and Patrick Agyemang," Belair said.

And perhaps more importantly, Charlotte are comfortable letting their college talents take time to develop. It's a question of patience.

"Ultimately, we just have to admit that our development system here in America is completely different than the rest of the world. And if people can't get through that idea that some of these players are just going to be a few years behind normally when players would be coming out and making their professional debuts, then it's OK," Belair said.

It comes down to more than just the draft, but Charlotte has steadily improved over its trio of campaigns in MLS. Last year, it made the playoffs outright for the first time. In 2025, there will be other moves – a transfer for Newcastle winger Miguel Amiron is rumored – but perhaps another draft prospect could put them over the edge.

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ImagnThe next frontier

Still, there remains the question of what's next. MLS is becoming more relevant on a global scale, academies are growing, and youth investment is only going to increase. There is talk of the college system switching to a fall-spring calendar to mimic the sport worldwide. At his pre MLS Cup state of the league address, commissioner Don Garber admitted that the draft might be less relevant going forward. The trade between Philadelphia and Colorado suggests that some clubs are thinking that way.

But there are others who insist otherwise. For Colorado, that means looking beyond U.S. borders and into Canada. The Northern neighbors have just three MLS clubs, a far less-developed professional league, but deep roots in the college soccer system. Bombito, who started for Canada in the Copa America semifinal, stands as evidence that there is still value to be found through the draft.

"You got to pay attention to the Canadian Premier League and players coming out of clubs like St Laurent or Vaughn FC, because there's good players there… Toronto and Vancouver and Montreal cannot capture all of the players in their markets. That's why you see so many top college players being Canadian," Taylor said.

And perhaps that's what really defines it all. Colorado views this aging system through a proactive lens – a means for value when others have turned in a different direction. Philadelphia have all-but shunned it altogether. Other clubs, such as Charlotte, are somewhere in between. Either way, there is still talent. It's just a question of whether clubs choose to use it.

"There are still players to be found. And until there ceases to be players to be found in the collegiate draft, we will continue to pay attention," Taylor said.

Wayne Rooney remains under pressure to keep his job after his Plymouth Argyle side were pegged back by Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough.

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Plymouth draw 3-3 with MiddlesbroughBattle of former Man United starsRooney's side bottom of ChampionshipFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Plymouth put in an improved performance against play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough but were thrice pegged back by the visitors on Saturday. Just when it looked like Mustapha Bundu had given the Pilgrims a crucial home win with his goal in the 81st minute, Emmanuel Latte Lath's equaliser six minutes from time ensured that the points were shared at Home Park.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The result means Plymouth are now rock bottom of the Championship after 21 games. Rooney's team haven't won any of their last five matches and question marks about the 39-year-old's suitability as a manager, who took over in the summer, will continue.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rooney and Carrick played alongside each other for 11 years at United and while the latter is showing ex-players can be good managers, the former is struggling in the dugout. He is yet to register a win percentage above 30 in his roles at Derby County, D.C. United, Birmingham City, and Plymouth.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Rooney will face off against another Premier League legend on Thursday when his Plymouth side travel to Frank Lampard's Coventry City in the Championship.

Seamer takes five-for within opening eight overs at Emirates Old Trafford to reach landmark

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-2021James Anderson said that taking his 1000th first-class wicket felt “very, very special” after he reached the career milestone during a vintage afternoon’s work on day two of Lancashire’s County Championship match against Kent at Emirates Old Trafford.Anderson, the most-prolific fast bowler in Test history, went into the game on 995 wickets in all red-ball cricket and, after the first day and a half was washed out, wasted no time in snapping up another five-for with the new ball.Kent middle-order batter Heino Kuhn was the man to go as Anderson reached the 1000 mark, edging a trademark outswinger through to the keeper to cue the celebrations.The last seam bowler to reach the mark was Andrew Caddick in 2005. Overall, Anderson is the 216th man to achieve the feat.

All the seven wickets from Jimmy Anderson's record-breaking day pic.twitter.com/VHAwSqpOtG

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 5, 2021