Austin FC has stirred the pot. 2025 is shaping up to be a year of big shifts. With the season just around the corner, the club has already announced who’s staying and who’s out the door, trimming the roster and paving the way for a whole new setup. The current rundown? Twenty-one players are set to don the green and black jersey, but there’s a lingering feeling things could go in a lot of directions. After all, in a league like Major League Soccer, where fortunes can flip with a streak of good or bad games, every roster decision carries serious weight.
Nineteen players have locked in their contracts, while Jimmy Farkarlun and Dani Pereira had their options renewed. Those two feel like bets Austin’s willing to make, maybe hoping for a leap in their performance. But there’s a list of players Austin has chosen to part ways with: Matt Bersano, Ethan Finlay, Matt Hedges, Alex Ring, and Jhojan Valencia. This call hints at the club’s drive to bring something new to the table, but it also raises a yellow flag about the depth of the lineup.
Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).
Hector Jimenez is currently out of contract, but he’s still in talks with the club. And here’s where things get interesting. Jimenez is one of those players who, while not the flashiest or the most game-changing, carries a level of experience and grit that can make a difference in those high-stress moments. He’s been in the trenches and knows what it’s like to keep his cool when the pressure’s on.
Meanwhile, Damian Las, who’s on loan to Louisville City FC until the end of December, remains an open question for Austin’s roster. He’s a promising goalkeeper, sure, but still far from securing the starting spot. Right now, Austin FC has three confirmed goalies, including Las, Brad Stuver, and Stefan Cleveland. Three’s a bit of a crowd for a spot that usually only needs one man between the sticks. Rotating could work, but without a clear lead, uncertainty’s the only guarantee.
The big play here seems to be in defense and attack. Austin has kept a solid base in the backline, with players like Guilherme Biro, Julio Cascante, and the new addition, Mikkel Desler. Up front, Gyasi Zardes and Diego Rubio promise to bring that spark the fans love, especially when the opposing team starts to waver.
But the big question hanging over it all is whether this core group has what it takes to handle the pressure of a season that’s bound to be intense, with plenty of MLS teams shaking things up and aiming for better standings. Austin FC’s rebuild looks like a mix of ambition and calculated risk.
This roster shakeup also shows a bolder Austin, a team that wants to reinvent itself. In a league like MLS, where competition is fierce and the rules on spending and signings are tight, every move has to hit the mark. It’s like a chess game where, unlike European soccer, clubs can’t just open their wallets without a second thought. Every signing, renewal, and release has to make sense, both on the field and on paper.