Football Season Guide

MLS

USA

MLS

2023

St. Louis City

In

João Klauss (att) Hoffenheim; Eduard Löwen (mid) Hertha Berlin; Tim Parker (def) Houston Dynamo; Njabulo Blom (mid) Kaizer Chiefs; Aziel Jackson (mid) Minnesota United; Jared Stroud (mid) Austin FC; Samuel Adeniran (att) Seattle Sounders; Ben Lundt (gk) Pheonix Rising; Joakim Nilsson (def) Arminia Bielefeld; Roman Bürki (gk) Borussia Dortmund; Rasmus Alm (mid) Elfsborg, Indiana Vassilev (att) Aston Villa, loan; Tomas Ostrak (mid) FC Köln; Jake Nerwinski (def) Vancouver Whitecaps; Nicholas Gioacchini (att) Orlando City; John Nelson (def) Cincinnati; Jon Bell (def) New England; Owen O'Malley (mid) CU Bluejays; Isak Jensen (mid) SönderjyskE U19; Joshua Yaro (def) St. Loius II; Akil Watts (def) St. Louis II; Kyle Hiebert (def) St. Louis II; Célio Pompeu (mid) St. Louis II, Max Schneider (mid) St. Louis II; Caden Glover (att) STLSC Academy

Out

Jake LaCava (mid) Inter Miami

St. Louis City SC are the latest expansion team to join the MLS and will play in the Western Conference this season. Formed in 2019, it will be the first female majority-owned club in the MLS. Bradley Carnell has been appointed manager having spent several years at New York Red Bulls as an assistant and briefly as interim head coach. He is expected to bring the high pressing transitional style of football that clubs in the Red Bull franchise are known for. The club's biggest transfer acquisition and first ever Designated Player is Brazilian striker Klauss. He had successful spells in Finland and Austria as well as a brief stint in the German Bundesliga. Swedish duo Joakim Nilsson and Rasmus Alm add much needed quality and experience from Europe. Jake Nerwinski and Tim Parker are both MLS stalwarts who should slot straight into the backline. Indiana Vassilev and Nicholas Gioacchini are exciting young talents with MLS experience. Roman Bürki brings the most stellar pedigree having arrived from Borussia Dortmund. The Swiss goalkeeper made over 200 appearances in the German Bundesliga and played at the very highest level in the Champions League.

Target

Claiming one of the final play-off spots would be a dream debut season for St. Louis, but it will be difficult getting a brand new squad of players to gel quickly.