For those not following roster moves for all of the Texas professional teams, I am providing a weekly summary of activity from the previous week during the preseason. The big roster moves this week came from Houston Dash whose roster listed below is currently under construction. RGV FC’s roster is especially still a work in progress as only 10 players have been announced and no moves were made last week. Though they are not a Texas team, I am tracking Columbus Crew due to the announced potential move to Austin in 2019.
MLS rosters are limited to 30 players with 2 of these slots dedicated only to homegrown players. Each club has been allocated 8 international slots-which can be traded. In 2017, USL rosters were limited to 30 players on each clubs Master Roster-which is the official player roster for USL play. A maximum of 7 of those players can be internationals. NWSL teams can have no more than 20 players, with 4 of those slots internationals. Roster rules will be relaxed in 2018 to allow non-retired Boston Breakers players selected in the January 30 Dispersal Draft to not count against roster limits.
Listed below are the current rosters for all teams with updates announced this week highlighted. Links to the transaction announcements are included if you are interested in learning more about the players.
Next week activities (February 4-10):
- FC Dallas return from Chattanooga, TN and will train in Frisco. Play preseason matches on Wednesday at 7 p.m. versus Salvadoran Primera Division side Santa Tecla FC and Saturday at 4 p.m. against Costa Rican Primera Division club CS Cartaginés, both at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
- Houston Dynamo return to Houston from the Rio Grande Valley and after training at home will play a preseason match against a yet-to-be announced opponent on Saturday
- Columbus Crew remain in Casa Grande, AZ until Tuesday and then travel to Hawaii to compete in the Pacific Rim Cup. The first match will be on Friday, February 9 against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo at Midnight CST. If the Crew win this match they will play for the Championship on Sunday or for third place on Saturday if they lose
- San Antonio FC train at home
- Rio Grande Valley FC has not announced a preseason schedule
- Houston Dash begin camp on February 19 and play their first preseason match against the Dynamo Academy on March 18
MLS
FC Dallas
Current Week
January 30: FC Dallas traded its No. 1 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking to Orlando City SC for $400,000 of Targeted Allocation Money and the Lions’ No. 6 position in the allocation process
January 30: Ecuadorian left back Anibal Chala will remain with Ecuadorian Serie A side L.D.U. Quito on loan throughout the 2018 season
Previous Week
NO ROSTER ADDITIONS
Current FC Dallas Roster (28) (Player additions since end of the 2017 bold)
11-Homegrown (HG), 9 International (INT), 2 Designated Players (DP), 3 Generation Adidas (GA) (player additions since end of the 2017 season in bold)
Goalkeepers: (2)
Jesse Gonzalez (HG), Jimmy Maurer
Defenders: (8)
Reggie Cannon (HG), Jordan Cano (HG), Anibal Chala (INT) (LOANED), Maynor Figueroa (INT), Matt Hedges, Anton Nedyalkov (INT), Kris Reaves (HG), Reto Ziegler (INT)
Midfielders: (10)
Kellyn Acosta (HG), Michael Barrios (INT), Mauro Diaz, Carlos Gruezo (INT) (DP), Jacori Hayes, Ryan Hollingshead, Roland Lamah (INT), Paxton Pomykal (HG), Brandon Servania (HG), Victor Ulloa (HG)
Forwards: (8)
Tesho Akindele, Francis Atuahene (INT) (GA) Cristian Colman (INT) (DP), Jesus Ferreira (HG), Adonijah Reid (HG), Bryan Reynolds (HG), Ema Twumasi (INT) (GA) Maxi Urruti
Houston Dynamo
Current Week
NO ROSTER ADDITIONS
Previous Week
January 25: Transferred forward Erick Torres to Liga MX club Pumas UNAM
Current Houston Roster (23) (Player additions since end of the 2017 bold)
1-Homegrown (HG), 7-International (INT), 2-Designated Players (DP) (player additions since end of the 2017 season in bold)
Goalkeepers: (1)
Chris Seitz
Defenders: (9)
DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Fuenmayor (INT), AJ DeLaGarza, Kevin Garcia, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado (INT), George Malki, Dylan Remick, Philippe Senderos (INT)
Midfielders: (9)
Eric Alexander, Arturo Alvarez, Eric Bird, Juan David Cabezas (INT), Darwin Ceren, Oscar Boniek Garcia, Tomas Martinez (INT) (DP), Memo Rodriguez (HG), Charlie Ward (INT)
Forwards: (4)
Alberth Elis (INT) (DP), Mauro Manotas, Romell Quioto (INT), Andrew Wenger
Columbus Crew
Current Week
January 29: Acquired more than $1 Million ($1,050,000) in Allocation Money as well as an international roster slot for the 2019 MLS season from Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder Justin Meram
February 2: Signed 34-year old midfielder Ricardo Clark (previously at Houston Dynamo)
https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2018/02/02/crew-sc-signs-free-agent-midfielder-ricardo-clark
Previous Week
January 26: Signed defender Milton Valenzuela on loan (w/purchase option) as a Young Designated Player (DP) from Newell’s Old Boys/ARG.
Current Columbus Roster (26) (Player additions since end of the 2017 bold)
2-Homegrown (HG), 9-International (INT), 3-Designated Players (DP) 1 Generation Adidas (GA) (player additions since end of the 2017 season in bold)
Goalkeepers: (3)
Jon Kempin, Logan Ketterer, Zack Steffen
Defenders: (8)
Lalas Abubakar (INT), Harrison Afful (INT), Alex Crognale (HG), Connor Maloney, Jonathan Mensah (INT) (DP), Gaston Sauro, Milton Valenzuela (INT) (DP), Josh Williams
Midfielders: (11)
Mohammed Abu (INT), Artur (INT), Ricardo Clark, Mike Grella, Niko Hansen, Federico Higuain (DP), Hector Jimenez, Cristian Martinez (INT), Justin Meram, Pedro Santos (INT) (DP), Eduardo Sosa (INT), Wil Trapp (HG)
Forwards: (3)
Adam Jahn, Edward Opoku (GA), Gyasi Zardes
USL
Rio Grande Valley FC
Current Week
NO ROSTER ADDITIONS
Previous Week
NO ROSTER ADDITIONS
Current Rio Grande Valley Roster (10) (Player additions since end of the 2017 bold)
Goalkeeper: (2)
Nico Corti, Matt Sanchez
Defenders: (4)
Kyle Adams, Conor Donovan, Kai Greene, Omar Ontiveros
Midfielders: (2)
Nicolas Perea, Todd Wharton
Forwards: (2)
Jesus Enriquez, Francisco Pungo
San Antonio FC
Current Week
NO ROSTER ADDITIONS
Previous Week
January 26: Signed midfielder Mikey Lopez (previously at New York City FC/MLS)
January 26: Re-signed re-signed defender-midfielder Mark O’Ojong and goalkeeper Lee Johnston
Current San Antonio Roster (20) (Player additions since end of the 2017 season bold)
Goalkeepers: (3)
Matt Cardone, Lee Johnston, Diego Restrepo
Defenders: (4)
Greg Cochrane, Cyprian Hedrick, Stephen McCarthy, Mark O’Ojong
Midfielders: (9)
Rafa Castillo, Jose Escalante, Omar Gordon, Mikey Lopez, Pecka, Connor Presley, Maxi Rodriquez, Ryan Roushandel, Kris Tyrpak
Forwards: (4)
Alex Bruce, Cesar Elizando, Ever Guzman, Mike Seth
NWSL
Houston Dash
Current Week
January 29: Re-sign forward Kealia Ohai
https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/01/29/houston-dash-re-sign-forward-kealia-ohai
January 30: Obtained rights to forward Kyah Simon and selected midfielder Lotta Okvist and goalkeeper Sammy Joe Prudhomme in the NWSL Dispersal Draft of former Boston Breakers players
January 31: Signed midfielders Michaela Hahn (Apollon Ladies F.C./CY) and Alison Wetherington (Univ. of Portland)
February 1: Signed midfielder Linda Motlhalo (JVW F.C./SA)
https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/02/01/houston-dash-sign-midfielder-linda-motlhalo
February 2: Re-signed goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, defender Cami Privett and midfielder Caity Heap. Announced retirements of Sarah Hagen and Meghan Cox
Previous Week
January 25: Resigned defender Amber Brooks
Current Dash Roster (22) (Player additions since end of the 2017 season bold)
Goalkeepers: (3)
Jane Campbell, Bianca Henninger, Sammy Joe Prudhomme
Defenders: (7)
Bruna Benites (INT), Amber Brooks, Clair Falknor, Lotta Okvist (INT), Cami Privett, Alison Wetherington, Janine van Wyk (INT)
Midfielders: (5)
Amber Brooks, Michaela Hahn, Caity Heap, Kristie Mewis, Linda Motlhalo (INT)
Forwards: (7)
Lindsay Agnew, Rachel Daly (INT), Savannah Jordan, Kealia Ohai, Christen Press, Nichele Prince, Kyah Simon (INT)
Texas Soccer Journal 