As the Major League Soccer season approaches, fans are anticipating the new young talents who are expected to break through this season. Here are some of the players expected to have a significant impact on the field in 2023 after impressing us last year:
QUINN SULLIVAN, 18
Midfield
Philadelphia Union
Quinn Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union is a young midfielder who has already made a name for himself in the league. Sullivan, who is known for his excellent ball control and passing abilities, is expected to be a key player for the Union this season. Quinn had an outstanding concacaf U20 qualifying performance last year. In seven games, he had six goals and four assists, and his current overall record for the U20 team sees a total of 15 goal involvements in just 13 appearances. We expect him to improve on his match time this season.
JACK McGLYNN, 19
Midfield
Philadelphia Union
Jack McGlynn is another Philadelphia Union player to keep an eye on. With his excellent left foot and field vision, the 19-year-old has already shown glimpses of his potential. McGlynn is expected to play a larger role in the team this season and emerge as a star.
McGlynn reads the game like a veteran. He is constantly thinking ahead before deciding what he wants to do next. This enables him to fully utilise his best asset, his world-class left foot, by accurately sending long balls.
BRIAN GUTIERREZ, 19
Midfield
Chicago Fire
Brian Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire. He's consistently outperformed expectations as he's gotten older and played in bigger games. This season, he is expected to be a major creative focal point for the Fire, especially when linking up with another exciting talent, Jhon Duran.
The Chicago native had a breakout 2022 season, tallying one goal and five assists in 31 appearances (18 starts). We can expect to see him starting more often in 2023.
NIKO TSAKIRIS, 17
Midfield
San Jose Earthquakes
Niko Tsakiris of the San Jose Earthquakes was only given playing time at the end of last season, but he looked like the most creative offensive player in the few games he did play. This year is expected to be a breakout season for him. Aged just 17, Niko managed to pick up 10 appearances including 3 starts for the Quakes. His passing accuracy was exremely high across his minutes on the pitch, and we'd expect those to increase emphatically for the 2023 season. Could be one to watch for seasons to come.
DANIEL EDELMAN, 19
Midfield
New York Red Bulls
In 2022, Daniel Edelman had a breakout season in the MLS. He appeared in 16 games, starting ten of them, and logged 988 minutes on the field. On February 26th, he made his MLS debut and quickly established himself as a dependable player for the team. His hard work and dedication paid off when he scored his first career MLS goal against Inter Miami CF on August 27th. Throughout the season, he consistently delivered strong performances and was an important member of the team.
KAYDEN PIERRE, 19
Defender
Sporting Kansas City
Kayden Pierre had an impressive showing toward the back end of last season, featuring as a right back for SKC. Like many modern full backs, Pierre is as useful going forward as he is in defence, winning an impressive 69% of ground duels.
His passing is equally as impressive, with an 83% completion rate. With this youngster having flown under the radar at one of the less notable sides in the league, we can expect a huge improvement next season as his confidence grows.
CHRIS BRADY, 18
Goalkeeper
Chicago Fire
After losing Gaga Slonina to Chelsea, up steps the next goalkeeping wizard from the Chicago production line. Many have speculated that Brady would be a number 1 if he was playing behind anyone but Slonina, so 2023 presents a fantastic opportunity for him to prove this to the masses in what will be an exciting and youthful side at Chicago. He finished the '22 season with an excellent performance against New England. Big things expected.
Finally, the 2023 Major League Soccer season promises to be exciting, with a slew of young players eager to make an impact on the field. These rising stars have already shown glimpses of their potential and are poised to step up their game. It's always exciting to see a new generation of players emerge and make their mark on the league, and these players are certainly capable of doing so. Keep an eye out for them as the season begins and prepare to see the MLS's future stars.
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