Where these three MLS free agents could thrive in 2025
Major League Soccer has a long history with free agency — a concept rare in global soccer but familiar to followers of American sports. Some of the league’s top signings, from FC Cincinnati’s Lucho Acosta to LAFC’s Carlos Vela, spent time as free agents during their MLS careers.
This winter, several top players — many of them wildly talented but victims of internal changes at their clubs — have entered free agency.
Here are three of the best free agents available and the best landing spot for each:
Kei Kamara, forward
The term “MLS legend” gets thrown around frequently, but few players are more worthy of the term than Kamara. The Sierra Leone native made his league debut in 2006 with Columbus and has played for 11 MLS clubs since — more than anyone else in league history overall.
“All I want is to be able to give something positive to the other guys out there,” he said this year before scoring the winning goal in the U. S. Open Cup final for LAFC, per ussoccer.com. “When the coach tells you to be ready, it’s your job to be ready.”
Kamara, 40, isn’t likely to be a starter in the MLS. But as his journey with LAFC in 2024 proved, he’s a versatile substitute. He’d be an excellent depth signing for any team playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup next year. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders should consider adding him.
But with Kamara’s MLS career entering its final stages, no destination would be more fitting for him than Sporting Kansas City. It’s where he won his first trophy and where he spent the most time — four years in the prime of his career from 2009-2012. Kansas City qualified for the Champions Cup, too, so it could use his goalscoring prowess just as much as Kamara could use it for a positive career send-off.
Fafa Picault, winger
Picault, a crucial part of Vancouver’s four-pronged playoff-worthy attack in 2024, is one of the more interesting free agents available. He’s tricky, intelligent and never hesitant to track back and provide defensive cover when needed. The league needs more wingers like him.
In a perfect world, Picault, 33, wouldn’t be a free agent at all. He’d be re-upping his Vancouver contract and staying for another season. But with Vancouver up for sale and coach Vanni Sartini getting sacked early in the offseason, Picault’s on the move, so Vancouver’s loss will absolutely be someone else’s gain.
Realistically, Picault could fit in anywhere in MLS — he’s experienced but not creaky, skilled but not big-headed. But we think he’d be a perfect fit for the Houston Dynamo, a club he played for 2021. Picault had a great season there, but Houston was rebuilding and couldn’t accommodate him. But that’s no longer the case.
With its starting winger, Adalberto Carrasquilla, in the naughty bin for a series of red-card offenses in the playoffs, Houston could use Picault’s cool head and intelligent play. It’d be great to see him and the Dynamo finally get it right together.
Ilie Sanchez, midfielder
Sanchez, 34, is one of the league’s more experienced and dynamic midfielders. It was his metronomic play (and his penalty in the ensuing shootout) that won LAFC the 2022 MLS Cup.
Sanchez’s particular set of skills don’t quite mesh with LAFC’s new tactical direction, but he’d be a fabulous addition at Bruce Arena’s San Jose Earthquakes. The 2024 Wooden Spoon “winners” are in a full rebuild under Arena and could use Sanchez’s leadership on and off the field.
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