MLS's New Stars for 2018 Season

MLS will kick off its 23rd season on March 3, and while legends like Kaká and Andrea Pirlo are no longer in the league and some young stars like Jack Harrison and Cyle Larin have left for Europe, a new class of talent has entered the league. Here are some of the biggest stars set for their league debuts in 2018.

SI Staff | Feb 6, 2018

MLS's New Stars for 2018 Season /

Carlos Vela, LAFC

The Mexican veteran was LAFC's first superstar signing, and he joins the expansion club after scoring on his finale with Real Sociedad. He'll be counted on for plenty of goals under Bob Bradley's watch.

Ezequiel Barco, Atlanta United

Barco was signed for an MLS-record transfer fee of $15 million, and the 18-year-old Argentine playmaker from Independiente will have some high expectations to meet during the club's second season.

Diego Rossi, LAFC

Rossi, 19, joins the league as a Young Designated Player and comes from Peñarol in his native Uruguay, where he is a rising attacking star.

Josue Colman, Orlando City

Colman, 19, has some pretty legendary shoes to fill, as the Paraguayan international steps into a midfield void left behind by the retired Kaká. It's not solely on Colman to create, not with MLS assist leader Sacha Kljestan joining the fold, but the former Cerro Porteño star be counted on to contribute immediately nonetheless.

Gregory Van der Wiel, Toronto FC

Fresh off winning MLS Cup, TFC went out and replaced right back Steven Beitashour with a starter on the Netherlands' 2010 World Cup runner-up side who is still only 30 and slots perfectly into Greg Vanney's system–and did it only with TAM. The rich get richer.

Felipe Gutierrez, Sporting Kansas City

The 27-year-old Chilean international joins Sporting KC as a Designated Player, and he brings with him a wealth of experience. The 2014 World Cup veteran has 35 caps for his country and has spent time with FC Twente and Real Betis in Europe in addition to Universidad Catolica and Internacional in South America.

Jesus Medina, NYCFC

Medina, 20, comes with lofty expectations after being signed from Libterad in his native Paraguay. He reportedly had interest from Manchester City as well and becomes a focal point of NYCFC's attack.

Kaku, New York Red Bulls

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Alejandro Romero Gamarra, otherwise known as Kaku, joins as a Young DP after a winter-long transfer saga. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder comes from Huracan and has lofty expectations, especially with playmaker Sacha Kljestan traded to Orlando City.

Andy Polo, Portland Timbers

The Peruvian winger joins the minor makeover taking place in Portland, where Giovanni Saverese is the new manager and Darlington Nagbe has left a midfield void. The 23-year-old Polo, who has 15 caps and one goal for the Peru national team, will be expected to contribute immediately.

Cristhian Paredes, Portland Timbers

Paredes, a 19-year-old Paraguayan attacker, joins the club on loan from Liga MX power America and is another piece to the Timbers' new midfield puzzle.

Magnus Eriksson, San Jose Earthquakes

Eriksson, 27, joins San Jose from Djurgardens, where he led the Swedish top flight in scoring a season ago.

Santiago Mosquera, FC Dallas

The 23-year-old playmaking midfielder arrives with plenty of fanfare and will be looking to stay out of the grasp of MLS defenders after a reported multimillion-dollar transfer fee was spent to sign him from Millonarios in his native Colombia. He is signed as a Young Designated Player and joins a talented young nucleus hoping for a bounce-back season under manager Oscar Pareja.

Yohan Croizet, Sporting Kansas City

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The 25-year-old French midfielder joins SKC as a Designated Player, coming from Belgian side KV Mechelen and signing through 2020 with an option for 2021. He has 12 goals and 11 assists with Mechelen in the last three seasons.

Milton Valenzuela, Columbus Crew

The league's trend of signing young, South American talent continued with Columbus's signing of Valenzuela, a U-20 Argentina left back, as a Young Designated Player.

Saphir Taider, Montreal Impact

The Impact swapped out DPs with Joey Saputo-owned Bologna, with Blerim Dzemaili going back to the Italian club but Taider, a 25-year-old Algerian international and 2014 World Cup veteran heading to Canada.

Anton Nedyalkov, FC Dallas

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The 24-year-old Bulgarian international left back steps in at FC Dallas after earning four caps in 2018 World Cup qualifying and spending his most recent club time at CSKA Sofia.

Efrain Juarez, Vancouver Whitecaps

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Juarez, 29, is an experienced Mexico international right back who joins the Whitecaps from Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey. He hasn't played for El Tri since 2012, but his career stops include Real Zaragoza and Celtic prior to coming back to North America.

Published Feb 6, 2018

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