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U.S. Men / Boys Oct 09, 2025

MLS 22 Under 22 class revealed for 2025, highlighting top young players

(Pictured Above: U.S. U-20 MNT players Zavier Gozo, Frankie Westfield, Peyton Miller, Taha Habroune, Brooklyn Raines, and Luca Bombino)

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer unveiled the full 2025 22 Under 22 class, highlighting the best young international and domestic players across the league.

Players were voted on by an expert panel of MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass talent, and select media. Topping the list in 2025 is Seattle Sounders FC and Mexico National Team midfielder Obed Vargas, who is the third Seattle player to be ranked No. 1 overall and the first since the list became 22 Under 22 in 2018. Vargas is also the first Mexican player to earn the top spot in 22 Under 22.

2025 22 Under 22 Class
Rank Player Club Age
1 Obed Vargas Seattle Sounders FC 20
2 Alex Freeman Orlando City SC 21
3 Idan Toklomati Charlotte FC 21
4 Owen Wolff Austin FC 20
5 David Martínez Los Angeles Football Club 19
6 Quinn Sullivan Philadelphia Union 21
7 Peyton Miller New England Revolution 17
8 Nathan Ordaz Los Angeles Football Club 21
9 Luca Bombino San Diego FC 19
10 Zavier Gozo Real Salt Lake 18
11 Chris Brady Chicago Fire FC 21
12 Noah Allen Inter Miami CF 21
13 Olwethu Makhanya Philadelphia Union 21
14 Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers 21
15 Manu Duah San Diego FC 20
16 Julián Fernández New York City FC 21
17 Ilay Feingold New England Revolution 21
18 Frankie Westfield Philadelphia Union 19
19 Nicolás Romero Minnesota United FC 21
20 Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids 20
21 Brooklyn Raines Houston Dynamo FC 20
22 Taha Habroune Columbus Crew 19

The 2025 version of the list includes a total of 14 Homegrown players with eight of the top 10 coming up through MLS academies. The most represented club is the Philadelphia Union with three players, while three other clubs had two selections on the list – Los Angeles Football ClubNew England Revolution, and San Diego FC. Players on this year’s 22 Under 22 list entered through three different mechanisms: Homegrown signings (14), U22 Initiative signings (seven), and MLS SuperDraft selections (one).

Several players on the list have progressed through the MLS Pro Player Pathway, beginning their careers in MLS NEXT before competing in MLS NEXT Pro and then starring in MLS. 13 players in this year’s class previously played in MLS NEXT, as well as seven who earned their first MLS contract after starring in MLS NEXT Pro. Notable MLS NEXT standouts include Peyton Miller (No. 7), who helped lead the U19 New England Revolution to an MLS NEXT Cup title in 2023 as a 15-year-old, and San Diego FC’s Manu Duah (No. 15), who starred at Santa Barbara Soccer Club before becoming the first No. 1 overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft to compete in MLS NEXT.

Notable MLS NEXT Pro alumni include Philadelphia Union defender Frankie Westfield (No. 18), who played in 26 games with Philadelphia Union II in 2024 and helped lead the club to the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Final, as well as Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo (No. 10) who scored six times in 26 appearances for Real Monarchs in 2023-24. Additionally, Orlando City SC’s Alex Freeman (No. 2) saw action in 50 MLS NEXT Pro matches from 2023-24 before breaking out for the first team in 2025.

To be eligible for voting, players had to remain 21 or younger before Decision Day on October 18, and therefore must have been born after October 19, 2003. The all-time 22 Under 22 winners are below. Note: Prior to 2018, the list was known as the 24 Under 24.

All-Time 22 Under 22 Winners

Year Player Club
2025 Obed Vargas Seattle Sounders FC
2024 Diego Gómez Inter Miami CF
2023 Alan Velasco FC Dallas
2022 Jesús Ferreira FC Dallas
2021 Ricardo Pepi FC Dallas
2020 Brenden Aaronson Philadelphia Union
2019 Diego Rossi Los Angeles Football Club
2018 Alphonso Davies Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2017 Miguel Almirón Atlanta United
2016 Cyle Larin Orlando City SC
2015 Fabián Castillo FC Dallas
2014 DeAndre Yedlin Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Darlington Nagbe Portland Timbers
2012 Darren Mattocks Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2011 Brek Shea FC Dallas
2010 Fredy Montero Seattle Sounders FC

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