There is no getting around it, the FC Dallas offseason is still very much a work in progress, but enough has happened to start identifying some early themes. Between an aggressive approach in the SuperDraft, a pair of international additions already in the door, and a noticeably quiet MLS trade market, the club’s strategy is beginning to take shape — even if the picture isn’t fully clear yet.
That doesn’t mean we have all the answers, but it does give us a few things worth talking about. So instead of projecting six moves that haven’t happened yet, here are three thoughts on FC Dallas’ offseason so far — what stands out, what feels intentional, and what might still be missing as we progress into the new calendar year.
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Aggressive in the SuperDraft
There are some teams that love the MLS SuperDraft and some teams that absolutely have no care in the world for it. FC Dallas has historically been one of those teams that values the draft and everything that can come from it.
But this year, they really went all out in the SuperDraft.
The club landed not one, but two picks, in the first three selections of the first round after swaps with CF Montreal and Atlanta United. In doing so, they landed two Generation adidas players that instantly earned roster spots (though they’re cap-friendly so that counts for something).
In doing so, they spent a lot of GAM (general allocation money) on a few unknown players (they also spent some money in the second round). In total, the club gave up roughly $925k in GAM - about $600k of that is in 2026 GAM, too.
It may be fair to say that there could be some lofty expectations on Ricky Louis and Nicholas Simmonds. When you’re drafted #2 and #3 overall, that is going to happen.
Drew Epperley
But, one of the first round picks won’t be joining FC Dallas right away. Vermont goalkeeper Niklas Herceg, selected 16th overall, announced on his social media that he is staying in school for another season. FC Dallas will retain his “MLS rights”, so he could be an option in 2027.
If anything, North Texas SC should feel good about the six players picked in this draft. I would expect most of these players to end up there in 2026, as the club looks for another Sam Sarver.
Limited moves on the ‘incoming’ side of things
I’ve talked a lot about how the roster feels…mostly set at this point. There really are only a couple of actual spots to fill out before the season starts.
As far as newcomers coming into the roster, there haven’t been that many this winter. You have the two SuperDraft picks (the other four have to earn their spots) and then two new international players - U22 signing Ran Binyamin and recent (likely TAM signing) Herman Johansson. Yesterday brought the usual group of Homegrown Player signings, but most of those players likely won't see first-team minutes in 2026.
Most winters, we’re usually talking about the three or four guys that the club has added that will be difference makers in the new season. I believe Johansson will be one of those guys, while I’m not entirely sure where Binyamin actually fits in this roster (not to mention, they have to sort out that U22 slot situation).
That big Designated Player signing should be next. If the club can hit on that move, the limited incoming moves may feel more justified.
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No cash transfers or trades…yet
By this time last year, we had already secured or were very close to securing several trades that helped reshape the roster. A quick recap of what went down in January last year for FC Dallas:
- Paul Arriola was traded to Seattle
- Jesus Ferreira was also traded to Seattle (for Leo Chu…which we then sold a couple months later)
- Nkosi Tafari was traded to LAFC
- Sam Junqua was traded to Real Salt Lake for Anderson Julio
- Shaq Moore was acquired from Nashville in a trade
All of that, along with moves that included Lalas Abubakar in free agency, Ramiro signing, and a slew of former NTSC players being signed, happened all within a couple of weeks between late December and mid-January.
I’m not saying we need that many moves this offseason, but it really feels at times that things are very quiet with this club.
We’re also one year into this new landscape in MLS - cash transfers. Or cashfers, I think that is what folks are calling these things right now. It still sounds like a get-rich scheme to me, but they are a real thing. FC Dallas was one of the first teams to dip their toes in the cash transfers market in MLS last year with the move that brought Lucho Acosta to Dallas.
Yeah, that did not end well, did it? But, we’re not here to beat that dead horse even more. It has been long enough; it is time to move on from that failed experiment.
Right now, the only area that makes sense to go for a big move in the cash market may be in that #10 spot. I’ve seen some folks bring up Diego Luna’s name from Real Salt Lake (that wouldn’t be bad, honestly), but I don’t think RSL would be that dumb to let Luna go before the World Cup.
Outside of that, there may not be another ‘big’ move in the works for FC Dallas. And in all honesty, that may be okay.
