The 2015 season has seen an influx of impact players across the league unlike any in recent years. Newcomers – players that have never played in MLS but have professional playing experience – contributed 160 goals and 132 assists leading into the September 15th Roster Freeze - more than both the 2013 and 2014 classes of newcomers. These players arrived from 38 countries, also surpassing the number of nations new players represented in 2013 and 2014. Most tellingly, the average age of this year’s newcomers at the time of their debut was 26.18 years old, representing the youngest crop of new players in the last three years.
A number of MLS newcomers have become the backbone for their respective clubs, including MLS MVP candidate and Italian international Sebastian Giovinco, who has tallied 17 goals (second-most in MLS) and 13 assists (second-most in MLS) for Toronto FC this year, and Brazilian icon Kaká who has started all 25 of his matches for Orlando City SC, recording nine goals and four assists in the process. Also proving to be indispensable in their first years are New York City FC leading goal scorer David Villa (15 goals) and offensive sparkplug Kwadwo Poku, LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget, New York Red Bull’s Mike Grella, Chicago Fire’s David Accam, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Octavio Rivero and Cristian Techera, and Montreal Impact’s Laurent Ciman, whose defensive prowess helped the Impact reach the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League final.
A number of MLS newcomers have become the backbone for their respective clubs, including MLS MVP candidate and Italian international Sebastian Giovinco, who has tallied 17 goals (second-most in MLS) and 13 assists (second-most in MLS) for Toronto FC this year, and Brazilian icon Kaká who has started all 25 of his matches for Orlando City SC, recording nine goals and four assists in the process. Also proving to be indispensable in their first years are New York City FC leading goal scorer David Villa (15 goals) and offensive sparkplug Kwadwo Poku, LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget, New York Red Bull’s Mike Grella, Chicago Fire’s David Accam, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Octavio Rivero and Cristian Techera, and Montreal Impact’s Laurent Ciman, whose defensive prowess helped the Impact reach the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League final.
A total of 36 players, including eight Designated Players, came into MLS midseason during the Secondary Transfer Window, many of whom made immediate impacts for their clubs. Mexican superstar Giovani dos Santos instantly gelled with his new side LA Galaxy, notching two goals and three assists in just five appearances. North of the border, Chelsea idol Didier Drogba settled in right away with the Montreal Impact and made history in the process, becoming the first player to record a hat trick within in his first two MLS appearances (watch hat trick here).
For an updated MLS World Player Map, CLICK HERE. A complete list of MLS player transactions can be found HERE.
2015 Roster Freeze Deadline
The 2015 Roster Freeze Deadline is Tuesday, September 15, at 5:00 p.m. ET, at which time teams must submit their final 28-man roster that will close out the season’s final six weeks and be eligible to participate in the Audi presents 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. In other words, no changes may be made to a team’s roster from the Roster Freeze Date through the day after MLS Cup 2015 (other than in the case of Extreme Hardship). CLICK HERE for the 2015 Roster Rules and Regulations and additional information on the 2015 Roster Freeze deadline.
For an updated MLS World Player Map, CLICK HERE. A complete list of MLS player transactions can be found HERE.
2015 Roster Freeze Deadline
The 2015 Roster Freeze Deadline is Tuesday, September 15, at 5:00 p.m. ET, at which time teams must submit their final 28-man roster that will close out the season’s final six weeks and be eligible to participate in the Audi presents 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. In other words, no changes may be made to a team’s roster from the Roster Freeze Date through the day after MLS Cup 2015 (other than in the case of Extreme Hardship). CLICK HERE for the 2015 Roster Rules and Regulations and additional information on the 2015 Roster Freeze deadline.
By: Editor
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