Houston Dynamo: 2020 Preview – Postseason return?

Offseason Summary

Squad Retention

The Houston Dynamo have an abundance of attacking options at their disposal with the likes of last year’s top scorer, Mauro Manotas, continuing to lead the line, alongside Christian Ramirez, Alberth Elis and Memo Rodriguez.

Experienced midfielders Boniek Garcia, Matias Vera and Tommy McNamara will continue to play their roles in the middle of the park for the Dynamo, with Tomas Martinez another of those that can chip in with goals at the right end.

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They also have experience at the back as well. Honduran legend Maynor Figueroa marshalling the troops, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Adam Lundkvist, Aljaz Struna and Jose Bizama all return along the backline.

Transfers & SuperDraft Picks

Three of Houston’s best XI from the 2019 campaign will not feature for the club this time around, including starting goalkeeper Joe Willis, who was traded to Nashville SC for their inaugural campaign in the American top-flight. Romell Quioto will play for the Montreal Impact in 2020, while A.J. DeLaGarza has signed for Inter Miami CF after seeing his contract expire in Houston.

Kevin Garcia’s also contract also ran out following the conclusion of the 2020 campaign, while Tyler Deric, Juan David Cabezas and Eric Bird had their options declined. Midfielder Marlon Hairston was traded to Minnesota United, while 37-year-old MLS legend DaMarcus Beasley announced his retirement following the end of last season.

In return for Hairston and $600,000 in allocation money, the Dynamo brought in Minnesota’s key playmaker, Darwin Quintero, to bolster their attacking options and link up with Christian Ramirez once more. With Willis moving to Nashville, Houston received defender Zarek Valentin in exchange, whilst also bringing in Argentinian defender Victor Cabrera in another trade.

The club have brought in two goalkeepers in the offseason to balance out the books after both Willis and Deric left. Houston signed Cody Cropper from the New England Revolution on a free transfer, just a few days after signing Croatian shot-stopper Marko Maric arrived from Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Marcelo Palomino, an 18-year-old midfielder, has risen up the ranks from the Dynamo academy to join the first team, while New Zealand U-20 defender Kyle Adams joins from Rio Grande Valley FC.

The club had the eighth pick in each of the four rounds in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, bar the third, where they had swapped it for the 18th following a trade with Minnesota United. Houston selected SMU forward Garett McLaughlin with the eighth overall pick, before then selecting Marquette midfielder Luka Prpa in the second round of the draft. They also chose Notre Dame shot-stopper Duncan Turnbull and Texas Rio Grande Valley forward Kyle Edwards in the remainder of the SuperDraft.