Photo Marjorie Elzey
Having played roughly two-thirds of the 2024 MLS season, it is time to consider what the first-team roster for 2025 will look like in mid-summer. The picture highlights the roster decisions Ernst Tanner’s technical staff must evaluate and finalize before the season’s end.
Since visuals effectively present information, we will visually lay out the current 19 guaranteed contracts for 2025 by position.
| Striker | Striker | |||
| Tai Baribo | Chris Donovan | |||
| Markus Anderson | Nelson Pierre | |||
| Attacking midfield | ||||
| Daniel Gazdag | ||||
| Cavan Sullivan | ||||
| Left midfield | Right midfield | |||
| Jack McGlynn | Jesus Bueno | |||
| David Vazquez | Nick Pariano | |||
| Defensive midfield | ||||
| Jose Martinez | ||||
| Sanders Ngabo | ||||
| Left Back | LeftCenterBack | RightCenterBack | Right Back | |
| Kai Wagner | Olwethu Makhanya | Jakob Glesnes | Nathan Harriel | |
| Goalkeeper | ||||
| Andre Blake | ||||
| Andrew Rick | ||||
| Oliver Semmle | ||||
After outlining the guarantees, we categorize decisions for the remaining 15 players into five categories. Each player falls under a category listed beneath the headings. For the four categories in which the club has complete decision-making control, we provide estimates of those decisions, at least to some extent. When it comes to out-of-contract free agents, like Kai Wagner and Julian Carranza last winter and this past June, we have no way to assess the player’s intent or the intentions of other clubs.
| ‘25 Option to be exercised (estimate) | ’25 Option to be declined (estimate) | Out of Contract, 31-Dec-24 | Loaned away, ’25 option not to be exercised (estimate) | ’25 Purchase option not to be exercised (estimate) |
| Jack Elliott | Holden Trent | Leon Flach | Joaquin Torres | Jamir Berdecio |
| Brandan Craig | Isaiah LeFlore | Damion Lowe | Richard Odada | |
| Olivier Mbaizo | Alejandro Bedoya | Matt Real | ||
| Quinn Sullivan | ||||
| Mikael Uhre | ||||
| Jeremy Rafanello |
It’s possible for an individual to remain employed within the organization but at a lower level. In the case of left back Isaiah LeFlore, who was injured on what we believe to be the first day, it would make sense for both the player and the club for him to rehabilitate by playing with Union II in 2025. He could either be directly signed by them or, if Supplemental Roster slot 31 is not needed for anyone else, he could be loaned to them for the 2025 season as Nick Pariano was in 2024.
Just saw we signed Sam Adeniran
That’s what we get for bugging for something, anything to add to the roster: a good USL fwd yet to show he can produce in MLS. Can you say “desperation?”
He scored 10 goals last season for St Louis City….. who topped MLS’ Western Conference…..
According to the May 1, 2024 roster profile of Adeniran published by MLS Soccer, his current contract ends this year and there are no options.
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Transfermarkt values him at $1.635 million, and his salary is just south of $94 K.
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When I visited Union II practice on Thursday morning, a tall bald person of African descent was practicing with the first teamers who had not gotten lots of minutes Wednesday night against New England. It was probably Adeniran.
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He will be playing for a new contract.
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Whatever number shirt he gets will suggest that whoever used to have it is not coming back.
He’s likely heading to LASK in Austria after the season on a free. The Union are essentially renting him for the rest of the season for 150K in GarberBuck$
I realize this lineup is speculative based on contracts, but if at any point in 2025 Chris Donovan is a starting striker for this team, the Cliff of Despair will have crumbled.