Brandon Vazquez has become one of several U.S. men’s national team players that could end up in Liga MX by month’s end.
Vazquez has joined Monterrey on a permanent deal from FC Cincinnati, both clubs announced Wednesday. The USMNT forward has signed a four-year contract with Monterrey, ending a four-season stay with FC Cincy in MLS.
Vazquez joined FC Cincy ahead of the 2020 season after being acquired by the club from Nashville SC. His 43 goals are ranked as the most in club history, while his 127 appearances are the second-most behind defender Nick Hagglund.
“We’d like to thank Brandon for all his contributions to FC Cincinnati,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. “He was a centerpiece of the team that brought FC Cincinnati its first trophy, and he’ll forever be part of the fabric of this club. He’s an incredibly talented player and an even better person, and we look forward to his future success. We wish Brandon and his family all the best.”
After totaling just six goals in his first two seasons in Cincinnati, Vazquez totaled 37 over his last two seasons, helping FC Cincy lift the 2023 Supporters’ Shield and clinch a berth into the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
His absence opens a major hole in FC Cincy’s attack for this upcoming season.
Here is a closer look at the recent MLS News:
DC United hires Troy Lesesne as new head coach
Troy Lesesne is staying in the Eastern Conference for his second MLS head coaching stint.
Lesesne was hired by DC United on Wednesday, signing a three-year contract through 2026. The former New York Red Bulls manager posted a 14-10-8 record across all competitions in 2023, leading the club to Round of 16 appearances in both the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup competitions.
“First I want to thank Steve Kaplan, Jason Levien, Ally Mackay, and Caleb Shreve for entrusting me to lead D.C. United into a new chapter,” Lesesne said. “This club has been a staple in this league since its inception in 1996. I know how passionate our supporters are and I look forward to connecting with them and delivering the results that they deserve.
“After speaking with Ally [Mackay] and ownership, I am highly optimistic that we have the infrastructure and investment to reach the level that the fans deserve,” he added. “I know there is a lot of work ahead of us in the next few weeks as we prepare for the 2024 season and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
DC United did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
Facundo Torres signs multi-year contract extension
Orlando City has locked down its star playmaker for several seasons to come.
Facundo Torres signed a contract extension through 2026, which includes a club option for 2027. He will remain a Designated Player during that time after originally joining the club in 2022.
“Facu has proven himself to be such an important part of our team these last couple of years,” Luiz Muzzi, Orlando City’s EVP of soccer operations and general manager, said in a release.
“He’s fulfilled our expectations that we set out for him at the start, showing great potential for even further growth. We’re really pleased to have him signed with us for even longer, as we strive for bigger objectives.”
Torres has remained the Lions’ main attacking threat heading into 2024 after totaling 23 goals and 14 assists in 64 regular-season appearances to date.
FC Dallas signs veteran Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez will now take his veteran presence to Texas for the 2024 MLS season.
Gonzalez signed a one-year contract with FC Dallas, the Western Conference club announced. The 35-year-old makes his move to FC Dallas after spending last season with the New England Revolution.
He has totaled 17 goals and 12 assists in 276 league matches to date.
“Omar brings valuable veteran experience to FC Dallas and will be a great addition to our defensive system,” FCD technical director André Zanotta said in a release. “We’re excited that he’s coming home to Dallas where his leadership in the locker room will be a tremendous asset for us.”
Gonzalez joins an FC Dallas backline which conceded only the third-fewest goals in the league last season (37).
Quick Kicks
- The Colorado Rapids bolstered their defensive options in the form of Jasper Loffelsend. Loffelsend joined in a trade with Real Salt Lake, in which $100,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and a 2024 second-round draft pick was sent in the opposite direction. Loffelsend has made 51 regular-season appearances to date.
- Austin FC has made forward Micah Burton their second-ever homegrown player signing. Burton, 17, scored two goals in 24 appearances for Austin FC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
- Inter Miami signed defenders Tyler Hall and Israel Boatwright to respective homegrown deals, the club announced. Both Hall and Boatwright featured heavily for Inter Miami II over the last two MLS NEXT Pro campaigns.
- The Colorado Rapids also rewarded one of their young talents ahead of the 2024 MLS season. Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry signed a homegrown contract through 2027, which included two option years (2028, 2029). Beaudry, a teammate of Burton (previously mentioned), made 16 appearances for Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro last season.
- Sawyer Jura joined the growing list of homegrown signings on Wednesday, committing his future to the Portland Timbers. Jura, 17, made 10 appearances for Timbers2 during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, registering one assist.
This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.
