MLS’ primary transfer window closes on Tuesday. Here’s the latest I’m hearing from across the league…
LA Galaxy, Puig agree to new deal
The LA Galaxy and star midfielder Riqui Puig have agreed to terms on a new contract, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Puig’s previous deal was set to expire after the 2025 season.
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Puig, 24, is the top player for the West-leading Galaxy. He joined from Barcelona during the 2022 season and has been among the best players in MLS since. He’s made 54 appearances so far for the Galaxy.
This season, Puig has two goals and two assists but his basic numbers don’t quite tell the whole story. Adding his secondary assists — which MLS officially counts — Puig is tied for fourth in the league in that category.
Puig also leads the league in touches by a wide margin — his total of 998 is well ahead of second-place Sergio Busquets’ 794 touches. Per FBRef, Puig is in the 99th percentile among MLS midfielders this season in passes attempted, progressive passess and progressive carries; He’s in the 97th percentile in shot-creating actions.
Cincinnati finalizing deal for U-22 forward
FC Cincinnati is finalizing a deal to sign Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, sources briefed on the deal confirm. The loan runs through the end of the season.
Kelsy will be added to the roster via the U-22 initiative. Daniel Nohra first reported the agreement.
According to The Athletic’s sources, Cincy will pay a $700,000 loan fee for 19-year-old, highly-rated Venezuelan youth international forward and retain a purchase option. They expect the deal to be completely done on Monday.
Though he didn’t get consistent playing time in Ukraine, Kelsy was consistently productive when on the field. He had seven goals and two assists in around 750 league minutes over the last two years. He also scored in the Champions League this year against FC Porto, his lone start in the competition.
In the mold of a target man who makes intelligent runs off the ball, Kelsy gives head coach Pat Noonan a more physical option at center forward. Given Kelsy is just 19 and joining midseason, expectations for Kelsy to make an immediate impact should be tempered.
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Despite Shakhtar’s initial unwillingness to negotiate, the clubs had been locked in talks for Kelsy for the better part of a month, sources say. Shakhtar didn’t want to lose the player despite the fact he had been buried far down their depth chart, while Kelsy was ready to leave for Cincy in search of regular minutes.
Trade market maneuvering
The trade market in MLS is heating up ahead of the deadline. The name popping up the most is Seattle Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga, who could be the first domino for further moves.
The New England Revolution is one of three clubs chasing Arreaga ahead of the deadline, sources say. New England center back Dave Romney, who has fallen out of favor with head coach Caleb Porter, has been made available, but no agreement is imminent with another club.
Behind New England, there’s one team in the Western Conference and another in the East in talks for Arreaga, sources say. Seattle aren’t holding out for a huge haul for Arreaga as they appreciate his professionalism as he fell out of favor over the last year.
Elsewhere, the Houston Dynamo has officially acquired winger McKinze Gaines from Nashville SC and Real Salt Lake acquired Phillip Quinton from the Columbus Crew, the first two end of window trades to go official.
FC Dallas is interested in adding another center back, sources say.
Overall, sources across the league have described the trade market as slow and not really moving in terms of active negotiations.
New England signing Aljaz Ivacic
The New England Revolution is signing goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic, according to sources briefed on the deal. They add that, in a corresponding move, the club has waived goalkeeper Jacob Jackson.
Ivacic, 30, was waived by the Portland Timbers after making 56 apps with the club. He won the Timbers 2022 supporters’ player of the year. He is expected to challenge Henrich Ravas for the starting role.
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Jackson, 23, was a standout for the Revs’ second team over the last two seasons and made three MLS appearances.
Charlotte FC won’t add U-22 winger
Charlotte FC had been in talks with Portuguese club Portimonense over Cape Verde international winger Hélio Varela, but that deal is currently dead, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.
The club has plenty of roster flexibility for the summer, when they plan to add a DP, U-22 initiative player as well as allocation money for another key signing.
Charlotte signed Israeli international winger Liel Abada to a club-record deal last month.
San Jose targets Championship midfielder
The San Jose Earthquakes have targeted Millwall attacking midfielder Zian Flemming with their open DP spot but are yet to make an offer, sources briefed on the situation say.
Flemming, 25, has seven goals and five assists in 44 Championship appearances for the club this season. Millwall has won three games in a row to lift themselves out of the relegation battle with two games left to play.
The Quakes have had several targets for this open DP spot, most notably Carlos Vela, but haven’t gotten a deal over the line yet. On the field, San Jose has struggled mightily, with eight losses in their first nine matches, putting them bottom of the league.
Familiar players to watch who are on the market
With the window closing and teams looking at the summer already as well, a few familiar names are being discussed around MLS, sources say.
One player to watch this summer is U.S. youth international winger Griffin Yow.
Three MLS clubs are considering a move for Yow, a former D.C. United homegrown currently playing at Westerlo in Belgium.
Yow, 21, is likely to move from Westerlo this summer after a breakout season, whether back to MLS or elsewhere in Europe. He has seven goals and six assists, which propelled him into the mix to potentially be selected for the Olympic team this summer.
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A few other familiar names include center back Danny Wilson, who was a long-time member of the Colorado Rapids, as well as English-American dual-national winger Alex Mighten.
Wilson, 32, returned to Scotland this winter. Mighten, 21, is on loan at Port Vale from Nottingham Forest.
Two USL Championship players off to Europe
Two young talents from North Carolina FC are off to Europe, sources briefed on the deals say.
Westerlo is finalizing a deal to sign forward Julian Placias. The 18-year-old joined North Carolina from the LA Galaxy academy this winter. He helped lead the Galaxy to win MLS Next Cup, scoring a tournament-best six goals.
Center back Adrian Pelayo is heading for a trial with Feyenoord. The 17-year-old is a product of the Portland Timbers academy and signed with North Carolina this winter, as well. He represented Mexico at the U-17 World Cup last year. He’s also eligible for the United States.
(Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)