MLS Players to Watch During the Summer Transfer Window

Silly season is here, with the vast majority of European teams having completed their 2024/25 seasons. It’s time for the summer transfer window to kick into high gear.

As ever, MLS players will play a key role in the musical chairs game that defines the global transfer market. Last summer saw a number of big-money transfers out of the league, headlined by Thiago Almada’s $19 million move to Botafogo (and now to Lyon) and Andres Gomez moving from Real Salt Lake to Stade Rennes for $11 million.

Will there be an eight-digit fee this summer? We’ll see. It’s possible, but not likely, and definitely not as obvious as #AlmadaWatch last year or Djorjde Petrovic the summer prior.

Here are the MLSers to watch in the transfer window the next few months.

Patrick Agyemang

Charlotte FC

Patrick Agyemang could depart Charlotte FC this summer for the right opportunity, but he’s more than content at the club and any transfer would have to make sense for Charlotte. There remains plenty of interest in the Championship and Belgium in Europe at the start of summer, sources say.

Charlotte already rejected a $4 million bid from then-Championship club Luton Town in January, as previously revelaed by GIVEMESPORT.

Agyemang is open to staying in Charlotte, but talks for a new contract have completely stopped for months. The sides are not close on salary terms, sources say. If Agyemang doesn’t move this summer, he could just see out of his contract and leave as a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.

The 24-year-old has five goals this season. After a breakout January camp with the USMNT, he was called up again in March and is on the roster this summer ahead of the Gold Cup.

Luca Orellano

FC Cincinnati

After failing to sign him in the winter, Cruz Azul is once again pushing for Luca Orellano this summer but they have not submitted a bid to FC Cincinnati yet, per sources.

Like in the winter, Cincy point to Orellano as a key and valued member of the squad. During the Cruz Azul saga, in which Orellano didn’t report to preseason on time, Cincy ultimately signed Orellano to a new, improved contract. He is now under contract through 2029.

Orellano, 25, has started the season slow with zero goals and three assists through 13 appearances.

Brian Gutierrez

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire homegrown attacking midfielder Brian Gutierrez is destined for Europe and this summer may be the time. It depends on the right offer for player and club.

Clubs across numerous leagues have serious interest in Gutierrez for the summer, including Spain, Italy and Germany, but it’s all just preliminary for now.

Gutierrez, 21, is a key player for Chicago, already with five goals in 10 appearances. That’s one goal off his single-season career-best.

Last year there was an offer from Chivas last summer, but Gutierrez would prefer Europe over Mexico for his next move. He’ll be one to watch this summer.

Alex Freeman

Orlando City

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman has been one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2025 season and his future lies in Europe.

Will it be this summer? Probably not, unless a huge offer comes, sources say.

Orlando want to keep Freeman for at least the season, as this is his first as a regular starter in the first team. There are talks for a new contract as well, sources add.

Serie A side Parma are among clubs in for him, but any bid to turn Orlando’s head would have to be big.

Freeman, 20, has played every single minute of the club’s last 15 games. The only game he didn’t start was their opener. He has exploded as an integral part of one of the East’s best teams and earned a senior USMNT call-up this summer.

David Martinez

LAFC

LAFC winger David Martinez is perhaps the most talented teenager in MLS and has had some big moments this season. It remains to be seen what happens this summer.

A number of big clubs have come to Los Angeles to scout the Venezuelan attacker. Will that interest turn to bids? We’ll see. LAFC value the player highly so it wouldn’t come cheap.

Martinez, 19, has three goals in just under 700 MLS minutes this year. He shows flashes of top quality and is working to nail down a regular starting place with consistency, as is totally normal for any promising young attacker.

Obed Vargas

Seattle Sounders

Obed Vargas is a player who could potentially command an eight-figure transfer fee. Maybe the added spotlight of the Club World Cup helps accelerate bids, but it’s not clear if he’ll definitely leave this summer.

At 19-years-old, Vargas already has 105 first team appearances under his belt and a ConcaChampions title with Seattle. He is an intellegent, mature midfielder ready for the next step but it has to be the right one. With his importance to Seattle, it’s a great spot to be in.

Adilson Malanda

Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC center back Adilson Malanda will return to Europe in a top five league in the future, but for now, Charlotte are intent on keeping him through the end of 2025, sources say.

That is their goal, at least. Malanda signed a new contract last summer and Charlotte has already rejected several offers in the winter for the French defender, with the most lucrative of the offers coming from England for north of $5 million, per sources.

Malanda, 23, has started all of Charlotte’s 16 MLS matches this season after starting 32 of 34 regular season games last year. He’s one of the best center backs in MLS.

Quinn Sullivan

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan is unlikely to depart the club this summer, barring a huge offer, sources say.

Sullivan, 21, signed a new, long-term deal this winter putting the Union in a strong position. He is playing the best soccer of his young career and earned a call-up to the USMNT so it’s been beneficial for both sides.

After a breakout 2024, Sullivan has leveled up again in 2025. He has two goals and seven assists this season, taking on an important role in the attack following Daniel Gazdag’s departure.

Sullivan is a player who will be abroad in the future, but not likely to happen this summer.

Nathan Saliba

CF Montréal

CF Montréal midfielder Nathan Saliba is expected to move this summer, sources say.

Where? To be determined. The Canadian international has been a brightspot for Montréal the last two and a half years. No bids have come yet this summer, but that is expected to change. Montréal are reasonable with valuations and have moved plenty of players to Europe in recent years, one of the best in MLS at that.

Saliba, 21, has 77 first team appearances and continues to grow in importance.

George Campbell

CF Montréal

Another CF Montréal player with interest abroad is George Campbell. Several clubs in the Championship, including Bristol City and West Brom, have him on their radar.

No bids have arrived yet, sources say, but we’re at the beginning of the summer. He’s a player who should be able to adapt to the physicality of England.

Campbell, 23, made his USMNT debut in January. He was acquired by Montréal ahead of the 2023 season and has been an important defender for them.