Tom Bogert

With so many overlapping MLS kickoffs, which teams should you prioritize tuning in to see? We rank them from best to worst.

U.S. national team assistant B.J. Callaghan is the frontrunner to be named the next Nashville SC manager and the two sides are in discussions for a deal, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. No deal is done yet, sources say, but Callaghan is the leading candidate. Former Portland Timbers manager Gio Savarese was also among the finalists, sources add. Callaghan is an assistant on Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT staff and are preparing for the Copa America. Callaghan is best known for briefly serving as interim head coach of the national team before Berhalter was re-hired. Callaghan won...

Houston Dynamo are finalizing a club-record deal to sign Argentine forward Ezequiel Ponce from AEK Athens, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic. Ponce will occupy one of the Dynamo’s three designated player slots. He was the club’s top target in their pursuit of a DP No. 9, sources say. Ponce, 27, joined AEK Athens last summer and excelled with 16 goals in 38 appearances (1,895 minutes) across all competitions. A product of Newell’s Old Boys, Ponce was signed by AS Roma to begin his European adventure that saw stops in Spain (with Granada and Elche), France (Lille), Russia...

Lozano becomes San Diego's cornerstone player as the club assembles its inaugural squad

Seattle Sounders and U.S. youth international Obed Vargas has completed a one-time switch to represent Mexico. Born in America of Mexican descent, Vargas is eligible for both countries. While the 18-year-old appeared in an official youth tournament for the United States, the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, players are still eligible to file a one-time switch. FIFA regulations introduced in September 2020 dictate that should Vargas make an international appearance for Mexico, regardless if this is at senior or junior level, he will not be able to switch his international allegiance again. “We...

Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to sign Columbus Crew and U.S. international midfielder Aidan Morris, sources briefed on the deal have told The Athletic. The agreed fee is in the region of $4million (£3.14m) and includes a sell-on clause, sources add. Morris has had a long-term goal of playing in Europe. The 22-year-old departed the Under-23 national team camp to travel to England to wrap up final details but the deal will not be signed until Morris plays his last game for the Crew, sources say. A departure date has not been set yet, but Morris is expected to play again for Columbus before...

U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson will stay at Leeds United this season after a positive conversation with head coach Daniel Farke, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Aaronson still had an active release clause in which he could have left on a free loan again and had interest in Germany, but opted to return to Leeds. Aaronson spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Union Berlin. The player feels he has unfinished business in England and Farke plans for the American to play a key role in their promotion push, sources say. Leeds lost in the Championship playoff final...

Dallas sit second-last in the Western Conference, with just 14 points after 16 matches in the 2024 season.

The Greek striker has been a consistent goalscorer in Atlanta since joining the club last winter from Celtic.

Atlanta United has parted ways with head coach Gonzalo Pineda, the team announced on Monday. The 41-year-old former Mexico international was in the final year of his three-and-a-half-year contract. Atlanta assistant coach Rob Valentino will take over as interim manager for the foreseeable future. “We made this decision in an effort to move the team in a new direction,” Atlanta United CEO and President Garth Lagerwey said. “As we continue to evaluate all aspects of our sporting operation, Rob will have our full support to turn our season around in the second half.” Under Pineda,...

The LA Galaxy are in advanced talks with free agent Marco Reus, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic. The Galaxy agreed to a deal with Charlotte FC for Reus’ discovery rights, sources say, giving the club the right to negotiate. Typically in these transactions, the allocation money will change hands only if the player signs, but in this case, Charlotte will receive some allocation money up front just for the right to negotiate, sources say. If Reus signs with the Galaxy, Charlotte will receive among the most expensive fees for a player’s rights. Charlotte had initially secured...

Lionel Messi will join up with Argentina’s squad on Monday ahead of their participation in this summer’s Copa America. The Inter Miami star has been selected in head coach Lionel Scaloni’s provisional squad for the 2024 tournament, which officially begins with Argentina against Canada on June 20. The 36-year-old, who has scored 13 goals and assisted 11 times in 14 appearances for Miami this season, will be hoping to help his nation defend the trophy they won in 2021. Miami sit first in MLS with 34 points after 17 matches at the exact halfway point in the regular season. They...

Brentford have finalised a deal to sign United States Under-19 goalkeeper Julian Eyestone on a free transfer. Eyestone has signed a three-year contract at the west London club after spending four months at Duke University. The move is subject to work permit approval with the application currently being processed. As reported by The Athletic earlier this month, the 18-year-old, who progressed through the FC Dallas academy, will join Brentford after making 18 appearances for Duke in North Carolina. Brentford are expected to pay FC Dallas training compensation for Eyestone, which is being...

Messi, Suarez and Busquets will not make the trip to Canada.

The Argentine playmaker has been largely absent from his club side this season