MLS newcomers to watch out for during the 2025 season
by Bradley Gibbs | by Tyler Doty
2025 MLS newcomers
The 2024 MLS campaign was an exciting one to say the least, and it was a strong season for the newcomers. Former Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus lifted the MLS Cup having joined LA Galaxy in the mid-season window, while Emile Forsberg, after joining the Red Bulls at the start of the campaign, became one of the most dangerous players in all of Major League Soccer. Let’s see what this season brings from those new to the league.
Keep an eye on the following newcomers during the upcoming season for your soccer predictions!
Jovan Lukic
- Age: 23
- Leaving: Spartak Subotica
- Joining: Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union have acted during the off-season by bringing in some fresh blood, opting to sign Serbian midfielder Jovan Lukic from Spartak Subotica.
Something of an unknown quantity outside of his native homeland, Lukic joins the Union having been a key part of Subotica’s midfield, while since the turn of the year, the youngster has also become a regular for Serbia’s U21’s.
Time will soon tell whether the high-energy, all-round midfielder can become a key part of coach Bradley Carnell’s plans for the upcoming campaign.
Marco Pasalic
- Age: 24
- Leaving: Rijeka
- Joining: Orlando City
Another Eastern European making the switch to Major League Soccer is Marco Pasalic, who links up with Orlando City having recently shone for Croatian outfit Rijeka.
The German born Croatian player, who has been capped three times by the national team, cut his teeth in the lower leagues of German soccer, featuring heavily for Dortmund’s second team in the third division during the 2022-23 season, before moving to Rijeka in the Croatian top flight ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Last year, Pasalic quickly established himself as a key player for Rijeka, contributing eight goals and assists from midfield, while he recently provided seven goals and assists in just 19 appearances during the 2024-25 season.
Bet on Major League Soccer with BetMGM
Hoyeon Jung
- Age: 24
- Leaving: Gwangju FC
- Joining: Minnesota United
Swapping Gwangju FC in the South Korean K League for Minnesota United in MLS is Hoyeon Jung, a hard-working, all-action central midfielder.
Not really known outside of South Korea, Jung joins the Loons having been a regular in the middle of the field for Gwangju during the 2024 season, registering five assists as his team finished in ninth place.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
- Age: 26
- Leaving Middlesbrough
- Joining: Atlanta United
In one of the most high-profile summer deals, Emmanuel Latte Lath joins Atlanta United English Championship club Middlesbrough in what goes down as an MLS-record deal.
Latte Lath, who scored 29 goals in one and a half seasons for Boro, arrives in Major League Soccer for a reported deal worth $22 million (plus add-ons).
This is very much a statement signing from the Five Stripes. The powerful, direct and goal-hungry forward will almost certainly help the team from Mercedes-Benz Stadium improve on last season’s efforts. If he can hit the ground running early on, then we could be looking at a serious Golden Boot contender.
Miguel Almiron
- Age: 31
- Leaving: Newcastle United
- Joining: Atlanta United
Another new signing but an old face will be joining Latte Lath at the Five Stripes. 2018 MLS Cup winner Miguel Almiron will be back in red and black for the 2025 season having completed a move from Premier League team Newcastle, for whom he produced 41 goals and assists between 2019 and 2024.
A hugely influential figure during the successful 2018 season, scoring 13 goals and providing 14 assists, Almiron returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a much more experienced player, and the Five Stripes will be hoping to harness that experience as they line up a serious run at more Major League Soccer glory.
Hennadii Synchuk
- Age: 18
- Leaving: Metalist Kharkiv
- Joining: Montreal CF
Very much a rough diamond and one for the future, young Ukrainian midfielder Hennadii Synchuk is a player that Montreal boss Laurent Courtois will be hoping to develop over the coming season, and who knows, he may even turn into a first-team regular
Described by Montreal CEO Gabriel Gervais as a “difference maker in the final third”, Synchuk, who featured heavily for Ukraine at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, may have to be patient for opportunities, though don’t be too surprised if he gets a few chances.
Rominigue Kouame
- Age: 28
- Leaving: Cadiz
- Joining: Chicago Fire
In a bid to toughen up after a poor showing last season, the Chicago Fire have brought in vastly experienced midfielder Rominigue Kouame.
Far from flashy, Kouame is an energetic midfielder, who works hard both with and without the ball, breaking up play and keeping things ticking over. He brings with him to Major League Soccer tricks of the trade from leagues such as Ligue 1 and LaLiga, where he played for Troyes and Cadiz.
Myrto Uzuni
- Age: 29
- Leaving: Granada
- Joining: Austin FC
One transfer that is very eye-catching is the one that sees Myrto Uzuni switch Granada in Spain for Austin FC. Considered something of a modern legend by fans of the team from the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Albanian forward arrives with a reputation for scoring lots of goals.
A hot signing for sure, Uzuni was on fire for Granada during the first half of the ongoing LaLiga2 season, scoring no less than 14 goals in just 18 appearances. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, Uzuni has netted 47 league goals, so he clearly has the tools to help his new team improve on last season’s poor showing.
Anders Dreyer
- Age: 26
- Leaving: Anderlecht
- Joining: San Diego FC
Expansion side San Diego FC have made what could turn out to be a very shrewd acquisition, bringing in Danish winger Anders Dreyer, who recently played for Anderlecht in Belgium, where he took the league by storm, scoring 15 goals and registering eight assists during the 2023-24 season.
The 26-year-old has had a positive impact wherever he’s been, scoring an average of 0.44 goals per 90 minutes between 2019 and 2024, featuring for clubs such as Heerenveen, Midtjylland, Rubin Kazan and Anderlecht. During the same time, Dreyer produced an average of 0.72 goals and assists per 90 minutes. A player to watch out for indeed.
