With less than 2 months until the 2026 MLS season kicks off, it’s extremely important to showcase the best available free agents entering the 2026 offseason.

As many teams entered their offseason, they announced their end-of-year roster decisions with their mindsets set on improving their rosters ahead of their 2026 campaigns. 

With just one day until the start of MLS Free Agency, here at Spotrac, we’re breaking down the Top 10 available MLS free agents:

A quick caveat: To be eligible for free agency in Major League Soccer (MLS), a player must generally be at least 24-years-old and have completed a minimum of four years of MLS service, typically meaning that their contract has expired or that their team has declined their option at the end of the season. This allows players the ability to negotiate with any MLS team, including their former club, after the league’s designated free agency period opens (which opens Dec. 10, 2025).

The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) compiles and releases the list of eligible players each offseason, as these criteria are automatically met.

This is different from the MLS Re-Entry Draft (which includes players who are at least 22-years-old with one year of MLS service who are out of contract and did not receive a Bona Fide Offer, or whose contract options were not exercised by their clubs. They also can qualify if they meet specific criteria, mainly for older, more experienced players. That process involves two stages, Re-Entry Draft 1 & Re-Entry Draft 2, which allows clubs to claim rights to a player whose contracts have expired or were declined.)

#1: Walker Zimmerman

  • Previous Team: Nashville SC
  • Position: Defender
  • Age: 32
  • MLS Stats: 25 goals & 10 assists in 287 regular season appearances (22,874 minutes played). 82% pass accuracy with 239 total fouls. Has 32 yellow cards & 5 red cards
  • MLS Individual Honors: 2x U.S. Open Cup Champion (2016, 2025), 2x Supporters’ Shield (2016, 2019), 4x MLS All-Star (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), 5x MLS Best XI (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), 2x MLS Defender of the Year (2020, 2021)

The most obvious defensive option is here. Walker Zimmerman is potentially the greatest defender in MLS history. 

The 32-year-old defender was most recently on a Designated Player Contract with Nashville SC.

The players' accolades speak for themselves. Every single team in MLS should be calling to attempt to sign the 5x MLS Best XI defender & 2x MLS Defender of the Year on a TAM level contract. 

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $3,456,979 in guaranteed compensation.

#2: Christian Benteke

  • Previous Team: D.C. United
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 35
  • MLS Stats: 47 goals & 10 assists in 93 regular season appearances (7,830 minutes played). 64% pass accuracy. Has 25 yellow cards & 1 red card.
  • MLS individual Honors: 2x MLS All-Star (2023, 2024, 1x MLS Best XI (2024), 1x MLS Golden Boot (2024)

The most obvious attacking threat is here. Christian Benteke is potentially the best aerial presence in MLS history. 

The 35-year-old forward was most recently on a Designated Player Contract with D.C. United. If any team in MLS can secure the former MLS Golden Boot forward on a MAX TAM level contract, they’d be silly not to. 

In 2025, he was on a salary of $4,937,500 in guaranteed compensation.

#3: Dayne St. Clair

  • Previous Team: Minnesota United FC
  • Position: Goalkeeper
  • Age: 28
  • MLS Stats: 448 total saves, 37 clean sheets in 174 regular season appearances, 0.700% save percentage with 63% pass accuracy & 82.2% long ball success rate
  • MLS Individual Honors: 2x MLS All-Star (2022, 2025), 1x MLS All-Star Game MVP (2022), 1x MLS Best XI (2025), 1x MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (2025)

The 2025 MLS All-Star, 2025 MLS Best XI, and 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year is officially testing the market. 

Dayne St. Clair is coming off one of his best seasons yet and is the best option on the board in terms of shot-stoppers. The 28-year-old goalkeeper has spent his entire MLS professional career with Minnesota United (2019-2025).

In 2025, he was on a salary of $631,875 in guaranteed compensation. It is expected that he will be searching for a contract that is in the seven figures range.

#4: Cristian Espinoza

  • Previous Team: San Jose Earthquakes
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 30
  • MLS Stats: 36 goals & 70 assists in 218 regular season appearances (18,145 minutes played). 79% pass accuracy. Has 37 yellow cards & 4 red cards.
  • MLS Individual Honors: 2x MLS All-Star (2023, 2025)

For the first time since 2019, Cristian Espinoza is on the market. 

The 30-year-old forward has quietly been one of the league’s most consistent and productive attackers.

The all-time assist leader for SJ has been with the club since 2019 & has missed just 9 out of a possible 227 regular season games in his Quakes career. He prefers to stay in MLS this season & has received a contract offer from the Quakes, however, he is open to options abroad as well. The DP forward had 4 goals & 12 assists for SJ in the 2025 season. 

In 2025, he was on a salary of $2,002,000 in guaranteed compensation.

#5: Josef Martínez

  • Previous Team: San Jose Earthquakes
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 32
  • MLS Stats: 130 goals & 21 assists in 214 regular season appearances (15,162 minutes played). 82% pass accuracy. Has 9 yellow cards & 1 red card.
  • MLS Individual Honors: 1x MLS Cup Champion (2018), 1x U.S. Open Cup Champion (2010), 1x Campeones Cup Champion (2019), 1x Leagues Cup Champion (2023), 3x MLS Best XI (2017, 2018, 2019), 1x MLS Golden Boot (2018), 1x MLS MVP (2018), 1x MLS Cup MVP (2018), 2x MLS All-Star (2018, 2019), 1x MLS All-Star MVP (2010), 2x MLS Goal of the Year (2019, 2022), member of 100 MLS Goals Club

The former MLS MVP mutually agreed to part ways with the San Jose Earthquakes after the 2025 season.

The DP forward was San Jose’s leading goal scorer this season with 14 goals in MLS play. The forward has featured for four MLS teams in the last four seasons, including Atlanta, Inter Miami, CF Montreal, & San Jose. 

The forward has the most goal contributions amongst active MLS players & is coming off of his most single-season goals and minutes played since his knee injury back in 2020. He will be a highly touted player in this free agency market.

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $1,450,000 in guaranteed compensation.

#6: Mikael Uhre

  • Previous Team: Philadelphia Union
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 31
  • MLS Stats: 38 goals & 18 assists in 119 regular season appearances (7,133 minutes played). 68% pass accuracy.
  • MLS Individual Honors: 1x Supporters’ Shield (2025)

The former club-record signing for Philadelphia Union hit the free agency market after the forward was out-of-contract at the conclusion of the 2025 season. 

The 31-year-old forward who signed back in 2022 for a reported $2,800,000 fee is a top-option in regard to available forwards. With Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner on administrative leave, it’ll be interesting to monitor the situation of the DP forward who was reportedly in negotiations on a potential return to the Union. 

If available, Uhre has 10+ goals in each of his two out of his four seasons in MLS play. For the right price, he could re-vitalize any MLS team’s offensive unit.

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $2,240,000 in guaranteed compensation.

#7: Diego Fagúndez

  • Previous Team: Los Angeles Galaxy
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Age: 30
  • MLS Stats: 79 goals & 79 assists in 424 regular season appearances (27,876 minutes played). 83% pass accuracy. Has had 44 yellow cards & 0 red cards.
  • MLS Individual Honors: 1x MLS Cup Champion (2024)

The 2025 Los Angeles Galaxy Player of the Year started in 29 out of 34 matches for the Los Angeles Galaxy this season but was left out of contract by the club. 

The Galaxy have announced that they are in negotiations with the midfielder to keep him in LA. 

The 30-year-old midfielder has 16-years of MLS experience with New England Revolution, Austin FC, & Los Angeles Galaxy. 

With 79 goals & 79 assists, the midfielder is 1-goal & 1-assist away from becoming just the fourth player in MLS history to join the 80 goal - 80 assist club (joining Landon Donovan, Jaime Moreno, and Diego Valeri).

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $1,310,000 in guaranteed compensation.

#8: Hassani Dotson

  • Previous Team: Minnesota United FC
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Age: 28
  • MLS Stats: 17 goals & 10 assists in 149 regular season appearances (10,856 minutes played). 83% pass accuracy. Has had 15 yellow cards & 1 red card.
  • MLS Individual Honors: N/A

It was quite intriguing to see Hassani Dotson hit the free agency market after Minnesota United FC announced their end-of-season roster update. 

The 28-year-old midfielder suffered a torn meniscus on March 22nd of 2025 and missed the rest of the 2025 season. He played just 8 matches where he had 1 goal & 0 assists.

The midfielder has played his entire career with Minnesota and is in negotiations with the club over a potential return, however, it seems after recent social media posts that the midfielder will be looking for a new home in 2026.

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $682,500 in guaranteed compensation.

#9: Paul Rothrock

  • Previous Team: Seattle Sounders FC
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 26
  • MLS Stats: 10 goals & 9 assists in 64 regular season appearances (3,564 minutes played). 80% pass accuracy. Has had 7 yellow cards & 0 red cards.
  • MLS Individual Honors: 1x Leagues Cup (2025)

Breakout forward Paul Rothrock is a highly coveted free agent this season. 

The 26-year-old forward is coming off of his best season yet with 4 goals & 7 assists in MLS play, including a goal in the Leagues Cup final. Seattle are reportedly in “healthy conversations” over a potential return with the forward, however, for his salary, many MLS teams will be foaming at the mouth over his signature.

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $104,000 in guaranteed compensation.

#10: Carlos Coronel

  • Previous Team: New York Red Bulls
  • Position: Goalkeeper
  • Age: 28
  • MLS Stats: 409 total saves, 45 clean sheets in 199 regular season appearances, 0.692% save percentage with 61% pass accuracy & 83.4% long ball success rate. 
  • MLS Individual Honors: None

The six-year MLS veteran goalkeeper is on the market.

 In late August of the 2025 season, RBNY acquired goalkeeper John McCarthy from Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for $150,000 in GAM & third-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. This ideally meant that after five seasons with New York Red Bulls, 28-year-old captain goalkeeper Carlos Coronel was left out of contract by the club & hit the free agent market.

The second (potentially first) best option goalkeeper was on a TAM level contract with New York Red Bulls & will be heavily sought after by plenty of teams.

 In 2025, he was on a salary of $599,649 in guaranteed compensation.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Goalkeepers: Sean Johnson (Former Club: Toronto FC), Aljaž Ivačič (Former Club: New England Revolution), Jacob Jackson (Former Club: FC Dallas), Pedro Gallese (Former Club: Orlando City SC), Maxime Crepeau (Former Club: Portland Timbers)

Defenders: Justin Haak (Former Club: New York City FC), Brandon Bye (Former Club: New England Revolution), Henry Kessler (Former Club: St. Louis City SC), Jon Bell (Former Club: Seattle Sounders), Kyle Duncan (Former Club: New York Red Bulls)

Midfielders: Gastón Brugman (Former Club: Nashville SC), Eryk Williamson (Former Club: Charlotte FC), Cesar Araújo (Former Club: Orlando City SC), Joao Paulo (Former Club: Seattle Sounders), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Former Club: San Jose Earthquakes)

Forwards: Mason Toye (Former Club: Sporting Kansas City), Fafa Picault (Former Club: Inter Miami CF), Willy Agada (Former Club: Real Salt Lake), Sergio Santos (Former Club: Houston Dynamo FC), Diego Rubio (Former Club: Austin FC)

 

Related:

MLS 2026 Free Agents

MLS Transactions