8 MLS Stars Who Should Be On Every Championship Club’s Radar
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8 MLS Stars Who Should Be On Every Championship Club’s Radar

8 MLS Stars Who Should Be On Every Championship Club’s Radar

Major League Soccer has grown to be a thriving garden of talent in recent years, moving away from its former ‘retirement league’ labels. The EFL Championship, along with divisions such as the Eredivisie and Belgian Pro League, have become favoured destinations for players looking to take the step up to European football. Providing the chance to test themselves in new waters, as opposed to being thrown in the deep end of the Premier League, Serie A, or La Liga.

In 2025, Championship clubs’ interest in MLS talent appears to have grown. The last week alone has seen Patrick Agyemang swap North Carolina for Derbyshire, and George Campbell join West Bromwich Albion from Montreal. Coventry City are also very close to striking a deal for Austin’s Daniel Pereira, and Orlando City’s Alex Freeman has been linked with Millwall and Southampton.

San Diego’s MLS induction means that there are now 30 teams in the league, and over 800 players. This considerably larger player pool means that there are plenty of treasures yet to be undug. Not everyone has the time to look through the pages of athletes employed by the league, so Football Park has done that for you. Compiling a list of eight stars who should be on every Championship club’s wishlist, if they aren’t already.

Quinn Sullivan (Midfielder, 21) - Philadelphia Union

Cavan Sullivan might have stolen all the headlines since his historic MLS debut, yet it's his older brother, Quinn, who is quietly building a career at the Union. Turning 21 a few months ago, Sullivan already has 144 appearances for Philadelphia, showing an increased maturity, especially over the last 18 months.

Branded as a ‘do-it-all’ midfielder, Sullivan has been deployed on the right or left side of Philly’s midfield, as part of Bradley Carnell’s 4-2-2-2 system. Effectively an advanced midfielder who can perform on the wing, but has a history of playing central roles as well. Sullivan blends his versatility with footballing vision beyond his years. Breaking the lines to find teammates via penetrating passes. This ability is underlined in his 2025 statistics; amongst his teammates, Sullivan is second for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.63) and first for carries into the final third (42 in total).

His decision-making, work rate, and progressive attitude were rewarded with a first senior cap for the USA last month. Meaning that he is not only rated by one of the best coaches in MLS, Carnell, but also by the renowned Mauricio Pochettino. With his younger brother set to join Manchester City upon his 18th birthday, Sullivan will be hopeful that a move to England is also on the cards for himself. Allowing him to bring his joyful style of play to Europe after capturing the hearts at his hometown club.

Max Arfsten (Defender, 24) - Columbus Crew

The 2023 MLS Super Draft produced plenty of successful prospects, including Moïse Bombito, who is now a first-teamer at Nice, as well as the aforementioned Agyemang. Max Arfsten will be the next from the class of ‘23 in line to make the jump across the Atlantic.

Most recognisable when deployed in his wing-back role for the Columbus Crew, Arfsten was also the USA’s starting left-back in their recent Gold Cup tournament. A gallivanting wide player with a knack for finding the net, Arfsten excels when it comes to taking on opposing defenders. Standing at 6’1”, the 24-year-old has a physical presence, an uncommon attribute amongst wing-backs, and always looks to find a teammate in the box with his chance-creating crosses.

Arfsten would be the perfect option for a team that opts into a back-three formation, as someone extremely familiar with the style.

Sebastian Berhalter (Midfielder, 24) - Vancouver Whitecaps

All three names on this list so far debuted for the USMNT in 2025. This is a recurring theme among American players heading to the Championship, with Campbell and Agyemang also achieving the same milestone. The son of former USA head coach and Crystal Palace defender Gregg Berhalter, Sebastian Berhalter truly has football in his veins.

The midfielder has been an unmissable reason behind Vancouver’s rise from a seven-year slump of mid-table mediocrity, to serious title contenders in 2025. Berhalter often stars as the pivot or left-sided midfielder in the Whitecaps’ midfield trio, alongside Pedro Vite and Andrés Cubas. A typical box-to-box character who outshines his peers when it comes to passing.

In 2025, Berhalter has made 7.57 progressive passes and 6.64 passes into the final third on average each game. His continuous passing is paired with high energy and defensive grit, whilst also racking up five goals and six assists this season. Berhalter is finally stepping out of his father’s shadow, a man who 31 years ago travelled to Europe to begin a 15-year stint in England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Now, Sebastian is ready to take the next step and follow in his father's footsteps with a move to Europe himself.

Tani Oluwaseyi (Forward, 25) - Minnesota United

Born in Nigeria, but made in Ontario, Tani Oluwaseyi is a relatively unknown name in the global football scene. This is mainly because he only started appearing and scoring in the MLS in 2024. Only four players scored more non-penalty goals per 90 last year, as the Canadian began to perform under Eric Ramsay at Minnesota.

A forward who has grown from strength to strength with each passing year, 2025 has seen Oluwaseyi's hard work truly come together. The 25-year-old has nine goals and eight assists this season, already smashing his MLS record from the year prior. It is also the year that he stepped up for the Canadian National Team, fighting off competition from fellow forwards Cyle Larin, Daniel Jebbison, and Promise David.

Oluwaseyi is a pressing striker with bags of pace and a tall 6’2” frame. However, he does not rely on his speed completely, making calculated runs, which reveal his impressive attacking intelligence. On top of that, Oluwaseyi is a versatile finisher who can rapidly turn into a goal provider; his assist record this season proves that he will happily set up teammates.

As the oldest player on this list, the striker is a late bloomer, but evidently has the attributes to test himself elsewhere in the near future.

Peyton Miller (Defender, 17) - New England Revolution

If any MLS player will make you feel old, it's Peyton Miller. Joining the Revolution’s academy when he was 13 in 2021, the wing-back made his debut for the club a year ago, becoming the second youngest player in New England's history.

Under Caleb Porter this season, he has started almost every game since matchday six, playing as a left midfielder in a back three formation, a tough position which requires extensive tracking up and down the left flank.

Not only does Miller average 3.45 crosses per 90, but he also ranks above 92% of his MLS defensive peers for touches in the attacking penalty area. Effective at both ends of the field, Miller has attacking prowess, whilst also chipping in with a defensive block or clearance too.

Arguably the most exciting teenager in the league, who regularly starts for the first team, Miller is not necessarily ready to make the move abroad yet, requiring a few more years of development in America if he is to become the star he projects. Nevertheless, Miller is simply too good for his age to miss out on this list, and should be on everyone’s radar in the Premier League, let alone the Championship.

Owen Wolff (Midfielder, 20) - Austin

There has not been much to write home about in Austin this season, but Owen Wolff is making waves in Central Texas, becoming an indispensable figure at the Q2 Stadium. Another player whose father has had MLS managerial roles, Josh Wolff was head coach at Austin for four seasons between 2021 & 2024, with Own following him to the club at the age of 16.

Wolff is a Swiss Army knife-style player. Transfermarkt have noted that he has played in six different positions this season alone. Regardless, he has played in every single Austin match this season, whether from central midfield, as a second striker, or on the wing.

A creative spark, Wolff is number one in the Verdes squad for crosses, making 107 in his 22 matches this campaign. He also leads the numbers for passes blocked (24), successful take-ons (24), and shot-creating actions (68). Other than his passing and dribbling, Wolff is also a tireless runner and Austin’s lead corner taker. His set-piece ability has led him to pick up 75% of his assists this season through corners.

Carlos Garces (Defender, 23) - LA Galaxy

Including an LA Galaxy player in a ‘ones to watch’ list feels like a crime in itself due to their woeful title defence this campaign. Still, Carlos Garces has continued to develop as a first-teamer in Los Angeles, building on the form that saw him start every match of the Galaxy’s victorious 2024 playoff run.

Playing in Colombia until he was 22, Garces came to Major League Soccer a year ago, as a youthful face to support ageing centre-halves, Maya Yoshida and Mathias Jørgensen. His exceptional pace and assertive play truly set him apart from the Galaxy's current centre-backs. His capacity for swiftly regaining possession and his calmness under pressure on the ball have made him a valuable asset to Greg Vanney.

Comparing him to West Brom’s George Campbell, a fellow central defender who has just received his move to England, Garces outdoes the former Montreal player in passing and defensive areas. Boasting a 92.1% pass success rate, with 79 tackles and interceptions made in 2025 already. After costing the Galaxy just over a million pounds, Garces is a young and cost-efficient defender who might be overlooked by some of the larger European clubs, making a shrewd Championship transfer a realistic possibility.

Obed Vargas (Midfielder, 19) - Seattle Sounders

Back in October 2024, Obed Vargas made history by becoming the first Alaskan to play for a senior men’s national team. Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska’s most populous city, Vargas joined the Seattle Sounders academy aged 14, beginning to pick up minutes for Seattle in 2022.

Functioning as a holding midfielder alongside the evergreen Cristian Roldan, Vargas has a fixed starting spot in Brian Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 setup, and recently played almost every minute of the Sounders’ Club World Cup tournament.

As a defensive midfielder who lacks height, Vargas instead relies on his footballing IQ to keep his game flowing. The Mexican international stands out for his off-the-ball movement, roaming across the pitch, continually finding pockets of space. He consistently triumphs in midfield duels thanks to impeccably timed bursts and exceptional spatial acuity, coupled with a keen grasp of the opposition's positioning and his midfield partner's location.

Last month, Seattle’s general manager admitted that there isn’t “a club in the world that doesn’t know who he Vargas is.” The soon-to-be 20-year-old is expected to enter the European scene soon, with the Championship a viable target.

Who Could Take a Step Further?

A handful of players missed out on this list, not because they didn’t make the cut, but due to their abilities exceeding those of England’s second division. Championship sides can attempt to seal any of their signatures. But it would come as a surprise if their next moves weren’t to one of Europe’s top five leagues.

There are numerous genuine MVP candidates this year; attacking midfielders Diego Luna and Evander Ferreira are perfect examples. Some MLS players have a previous history in Europe, leaving the continent for various reasons to build a career in the States. Marco Pasalic is an exemplar of this model, playing for Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund’s youth academies previously.

The Croatian has evolved into a different beast since moving to Orlando in January, with one of the best left-footed strikes in America. Other US-born players are also causing a stir in the MLS; names like Jack McGlynn and Benjamin Cremaschi instantly come to mind as young individuals with a bright career ahead.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

James McLeish

Writer

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