The 2025 edition of the MLS SuperDraft concluded with 90 selections and Generation Adidas signee Manu Duah going first overall. The selection of the midfielder from UC Santa Barbara was followed by Saint Louis defender Max Floriani and Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz. These two were selected by San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire respectively to round out the top 3.
Players selected in this uniquely American mechanism are mostly collegiate athletes and not guaranteed MLS playing time nor to sign with their selecting club this season. Outside of the top 10, being selected is likely the most these prospects will be associated with the club that chose them. Despite this, the NCAA has prestigious programs that develop talent respectably and have placed student-athletes directly into Europe more frequently in recent years (Kahveh Zahiroleslam, Nathaniel Opoku). Most NCAA footballers will only have potential to play in the mostly semi-professional lower tier landscape of North America (USL, CPL, NISA, UPSL, etc.), but there are always diamonds in the rough that have the work ethic to carve out solid professional and/or MLS careers. This draft class is no different and there are a few profiles from each round worth highlighting.
Round 1:
(Pick 4 Colorado) Alex Harris, CF, Cornell
Harris is a Generation Adidas signee who was a candidate for the first overall pick. A mobile striker/support striker profile from Vancouver, Washington, he scored 19 goals and 5 assists in 19 matches in 2024. Harris was named Co-Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, following up a 2023 performance that earned him Rookie of the Year. At a slim 5’11”, he does not stand out physically but is a fluid athlete. He has more than enough pace to the stretch the middle channel and half spaces on his runs in behind and in support. Meanwhile, his agility and quick feet makes him a hard marker to stick to both on and off ball with his turns and near elite dribbling ability for his position. On the rare occasion Harris is not on the scoresheet, he still provides enough with his reliable progressive passing and excellent off ball work. His tactical intelligence and general awareness going forward does not just put him into the best spots to finish with either foot (even aerially despite his frame), it opens lanes to run into for his teammates vying to get in behind. With Harris’ silky athleticism and improving strength, he should be up to speed rather quickly with the Colorado Rapids. His impressive end product over two seasons should translate as his right footed ball-striking is second to none (of Division I forwards), whether for power or placement. Harris’ finishing and attacking instincts off ball are quality traits to keep him in the front two of MLS starting XIs for a long time if he keeps working hard.
(Pick 11 Dallas) Enzo Newman, RB, Oregon State
Newman stuck out the most as a freshman on a Beavers team that overachieved in the College Cup and continued that into this season. He concluded his sophomore campaign by being the highest selected player from his school and linking back up with Logan Farrington at FC Dallas. Newman is a two-way wide fullback with flexibility to play on the left flank, much in the mold of Charlotte FC’s Jaylin Lindsey. He has a mature frame for his age, standing at 5’9”, average for his position with a build that is on the stockier side. The newly 21-year-old threatened a sophomore slump to start the season, but as the season went on his defensive confidence was back fully. His dominance in duels and 1v1s with timely challenges returned and had more physicality to it than last season, turning his wing into a zone opponents learned quickly not to attack. This opens up the flank to his progressive abilities via speedy, yet strong long dribbles to get into the opposition half then final third. That turned into take-ons on par to many wingers at the Division 1 level, most often using a turn of pace to the outside to gain space from his marker for a cutback into the near post or a right footed cross. Newman’s creation from the wing led to 6 assists from 1,600 minutes. This is a special athlete to find playing defense at this level that has both defensive and offensive technique to match the athleticism. Dallas had luck drafting from Oregon State last season and have double-dipped on the correct player. If Newman taps his potential, he could end up a regular at a Rangers-level club in his prime. FC Dallas has a reputation of nurturing that kind of talent quite well.
(Pick 13 Montreal) Michael Adedokun, LW, Ohio State
Adedokun spent five seasons at the Division 1 level after being recruited from the Nigerian high school Segun Odegbami. He began at Dayton and finished his final two seasons with the Buckeyes where he was a star winger, providing 20 goal contributions in 31 appearances. His elite explosiveness for the level makes it easy for him to cut inside past his marker from the wing into solid distance finishing or his best trait, creative distribution penetrating the box, usually via an in-swinging cross with his dominant right foot. Adedokun’s ground distribution is reliable, he mainly looks to play it short forward ahead of him or to the inside. His passing variety when creating must expand while developing more consistent end product. Due to his athleticism and statistical output, Adedokun had a chance to be drafted high, though his age limits his ceiling. He likely dropped in the draft for similar reasons to former Clemson winger Ousmane Sylla who had a nearly identical skillset and resume entering the SuperDraft last year. Expect Adedokun to dominate Next Pro in 2025 just as Sylla did before being released.
(Pick 16 Colorado) Sydney Wathuta, LW, Vermont
Wathuta is a tall and lanky Canadian winger and recently a national champion. He’s already got USL League Two and Open Cup experience along with a school record 14 assists in 2024. He is immensely creative and that is hallmarked by his role as a set piece specialist. Contrary to his stature, Wathuta was the Catamounts’ primary corner taker and handled most wide free kicks, too. He displayed consistency on his accuracy on those deliveries and his crosses into the near post created the most danger, either setting up headed chances or winning corners. From open play, he is at his best pushing play forward on the counter himself, using his long strides on progressive carries to glide by markers. His first touch and his dribbling in general needs lots more control, as he tends to dribble the ball too far ahead of himself even on actual long dribbles. Wathuta’s long strides combined with natural pace overshadow his poor dribbling abilities as it plays well into the Catamount tactical set up, having plenty of space to hide his dribbling controls while emphasizing his flank-stretching ability on ball and supporting with wide runs in behind. As expected from a set piece specialist with so many assists, Wathuta utilizes crossing from either foot on many of his chances created. Additionally, his length and quickness when closing out and cutting out passing lanes in the high press are effective. Wathuta has potential to be a solid rotational MLS player one day and could be a star in the USL Championship soon.
(Pick 17 New York City) Max Murray, CB/CF, Vermont
Murray converted from center forward to center back to fit a team need and has thrived, becoming a key piece for the Catamounts en route to a national championship. This position change late in his development is a strange one, but it fits him and exemplifies the leadership he provided at Vermont. At a towering 6’5” with 18 goals over a five college seasons, the change came at the perfect moment and may have lengthened his career. In the national championship, Murray’s timely defensive actions and composure help to keep his back line together in a tight, physical match. He does not get overly aggressive coming up from his line in anticipation of duels or trying to cut out passing lanes early for an interception, but when the opportunity presents itself, he takes it decisively. Murray is timely in his actions and quite precise, consistently getting all ball on challenges, leaving no idea of a foul in the head of referees. When intercepting, his clearances are quick and decisive, leaving nothing to chance if he decides not to retain possession given the pressure at hand. As a recently former striker with tons of height, he is quite the set piece target, especially on corners. Murray’s dominance in aerial duels helps in both boxes, making him a consistent clearer of danger and a near post scoring threat. On ball, he is confident, attempting dribbles past opponents as if he is still an attacker. Along with being a calm dribbler carrying from the back, Murray breaks lines with his passes, too. With his knowledge of what it takes to be a forward at a nearly professional level, Murray’s development at center back will be interesting to watch. Being five years removed from high school, I doubt he takes City Football Group by storm, but he is an interesting profile.
(Pick 30 Real Salt Lake) Sergi Solans, CF, Oregon State
Spanish redshirt freshman Solans replaced the hole left by Farrington with flying colors. In 14 starts, he had 14 goals and 3 assists, including 3 game winning goals. Solans’ instincts to show up and finish in crucial moments cannot be understated. The first thing to look for in a striker his goals and he has plenty of those—yet those are just the product of his hard work off ball, making runs up the middle channel into the box. The mobile striker usually runs into the near post, using a variety of different styles to finish. Although not poor in the air or with his head, it is nothing special. So, Solans’ primary first-time ball-striking is with his dominant right foot. In addition to first time finishing, he tries his foot at long shots, going for chips and/or placement, showing improvement as the season went on. His dribbling has shown in flashes that it can be impressive for a center forward when he receives in stride up the middle channel in transition. Solans has even shown some ability to create early in his college career, as evidenced by his assist numbers. This primarily happened when he utilized his elite attacking instincts for this level to unselfishly pass up on a finishing opportunity, laying it off short or putting a short pass through to a winger released in behind. His service on these passes could improve, but Solans’ developing vision paired with reliable end product is quite promising. Real Salt Lake is in a bit of a revamp of its attack, so Solans could get a chance if he leaves college early.
Round 2:
(Pick 36 Nashville) Alioune Ka, LW/CF, Cornell
Alioune Ka was the left-sided attack partner to Alex Harris for the Big Red. The right footed winger is quite tall for the position with a gangly frame. He has naturally long strides that allow him to glide up the left flank on carries and past recovering markers. Ka’s best quality as a winger is on the attack, using his athleticism to put his marker on his heels in 1v1s, allowing Ka to explode inside into finishing opportunities with varying end product, converting 8 of his 23 shots on goal and putting 57.5% of his shots on target. Primarily, he utilizes power on low shots with his dominant right foot when finishing. In distribution, Ka is smart to play passes inside instead of taking risks playing it forward when the lanes are not clearly there. With loss volume/opportunities attacking from the wing as a professional, a move inside to center forward may be on the horizon for him due to his size (6’1”). KA has solid enough strength and press resistance to move centrally and try his hand at some no. 9 roles. As a shoot-first winger that may need more quickness at the next level, a permanent move inside may prove to be crucial in prolonging his career. As a strike partner for a highly regarded talent in Harris, Ka may have willingly adjusted his position to put his team in the best starting XI to win matches—a sign of maturity and leadership that is expected from a senior. Nashville is trying again at selecting an NCAA-trained forward after letting Forster Ajago go in the Re-Entry Draft.
(Pick 41 Dallas) Samuel Sarver, RW/CF, Indiana
The 21-year-old Sarver is short with a lean frame, primarily playing right winger for the Hoosiers. FC Dallas is getting a wide winger that created 8 assists this season and 22 on his career. As a right footer, Sarver thrives most attacking the final third with a variety of crossing types into the box, although his accuracy could improve. His crossing volume and overall energy up and down the flank aid this. Sarver is quite explosive for this level, and it shows in the frustration he caused in the high press early an often, whether pressing from behind giving chase into his own half or closing out onto the opposition defenders trying to build out from the back. With his quickness and burst along with relative control, he was able to cause turnovers with blocks of rushed passes or on timely lunges into challenges. Sarver’s twitchy athleticism is a strong building block to have if he is to make it professionally. There is a question to if his strength will hold up against older, more physical players, as his agility is not on par with his initial burst and long speed that makes him deadly on the counter and in the press. In the right system, Sarver could thrive as a rotational winger in the MLS or become a solid starter in USL Championship. Dallas is the right environment to make that happen.
(Pick 44 Montreal) Arik Duncan, CF, UC Berkeley
Duncan is a 6’4” target man that deserved more playing time on a Golden Bears squad that beat impressive Duke (he scored in this match) and North Carolina teams in the ACC Championship before being knocked out by powerhouse Clemson (assisted in this one) in the semifinal. After beginning the season coming off the bench, the senior transfer from Georgia earned back his starting spot and led the team in goals with 5 after scoring just one in 15 starts last season. Duncan only played the full 90 minutes once this season and did not score or assist in that draw against Virginia. As a traditional target man, lots of direct service came into him, primarily wanting it into his chest where he could control it best or into his feet so he could turn and begin progressing. Despite his large frame, he is quite technical and controlled on the ball and can mix in both feet while delivering passes through to his wingers running in behind in response to him receiving. Duncan has displayed solid vision to spot these runs early and often to keep play pushing on the counter. His accuracy on this distribution could improve, especially when pressured. As a finisher, he has a tendency for the spectacular despite being a physical marvel in the box that is decent aerially. The best example of this unique storm of strengths in a striker was on a direct ball he received directing it inside with his body immediately on the turn into a weaker left footed chipped finish to beat a goalkeeper in awe of the control and placement on his finish from distance. But that is the type of forward Duncan is, one that deceives with his size advantage and exploits the defense with his ball-striking technique. Although a 4-year player, there is still some untapped ability in Duncan’s skillset and Montreal is right to be curious for what is in store (if they nurture his development correctly).
(Pick 56 San Diego) Samy Kanaan, AM/RW, San Diego
In Kanaan, the MLS’s newest expansion club proved again this offseason that they have scouted well locally. The junior Torero averaged over two shots per game from the no. 10 position during his college career and finished this season with 9 goals and 2 assists. Kanaan has the confidence and finishing chops to strike from distance after cutting inside on his dribble to win a 1v1. Creating with the ball at his feet is where he is at his best, receiving in stride up the right half space and middle channel for short progressive carries where he keeps his head up to scan runners ahead of him, then releasing them in behind via chipped or ground passes primarily with his dominant right foot from varying ranges. Kanaan trusts in the distribution ability of his dominant foot and it shows in the risk and successes of his progressive passing. A classic playmaker at attacking midfielder, the San Diego native has shown the work ethic and box-to-box ability to possibly play no. 8, too. With the benefit of beginning his MLS (Next Pro) career at home, Kanaan could have a higher chance than most selected in this spot to get MLS minutes.
Round 3:
(Pick 68 Colorado) Shawn Smart, RB, Clemson/Las Vegas Lights
Colorado’s nine pick draft class had one more interesting selection in Smart. Recently, he has been rumored to sign with Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie, so the selection was likely to secure his MLS rights should he return to North America in the future or bypass the move abroad entirely. Based on this scout report, I believe Smart will move to Europe unless there is a chance he can out play captain Keegan Rosenberry or Reggie Cannon (who returned from England in September).
(Pick 69 Toronto) Joseph Melto Quiah, LW/RW, Dayton
Melto Quiah is the late round rendition of the Adedokun/Sylla winger mold mentioned earlier. The Dayton Flyers star is already senior cap-tied to Liberia and only 20-years-old with three years of Division I experience. Add 8 goals and 6 assists in 1,622 minutes into the mix and that is a prospect ahead of his years in experience and talent based off the facts alone. When evaluating Melto Quiah, the reason he slipped through the cracks is clear. Compared to those Division 1 wingers of a similar play style, he has played in a weaker conference and inconsistent service into him brought some question marks. On the contrary, accuracy on his service is mostly reliable as he likes to pass inside to teammates in stride, cut inside into a back post cross or play it short ahead of him at the end of his pacy progressive carries. He plays much better against pressure than Adedokun and simply seems the calmer player on ball. Each player must improve their end product to succeed at this level. Due to the competition he faced, Melto Quiah will have more to prove with his vision, finishing, and creativity. Having composed and controlled technique on the ball bodes well for him, while the primary concern will be what he does with it as a professional. Considering the volume he was afforded at Dayton will not be matched with much stronger talent around him, it will be interesting to watch how he adapts.
(Pick 73 Montreal) Arthur Duquenne, LB, Clemson
Duquenne is a French sophomore left back and a product of Amiens’ academy. Montreal adds a young and physically mature wing creator into the mix of a relatively weak fullback room with this selection. His native language being French will surely be beneficial in acclimating to Quebec should he sign with the club. On the attack is where Duquenne thrives, using his strength to ward off physical pressure while dribbling up the wide flank to progress. He attacks from wide, providing a high volume of out swinging crosses with his dominant left foot with solid placement, picking up 9 assists during his college career. Off ball, he continues to provide width with overlapping runs in support, receiving in stride to put in those crosses or cutback into the near post depending on how far into the final third he was when he received. Defensively, there is still room to improve, so further development at Clemson is needed or Duquenne will be limited as a wingback when he turns professional. His attacking prowess and development at a European academy make him an intriguing prospect, but the 19-year-old must refine his defensive technique.
(Pick 84 New York City) Arnau Farnos, RW/CF, Oregon State
Farnos is worth noting due to his development in the Girona academy. He now returns to City Football Group with NYCFC as a late SuperDraft selection. Farnos is not a crazy athlete but still managed a goal every other game in 2024 and a contribution every other game the year before. This comes through intelligent placement of himself off ball in and around the final third, both opening up lanes for him to run into, whether it be inverted or up the middle channel, and others via dummy runs. When on ball, Farnos is comfortable out wide, but more so inside, dealing with pressure well while showing of his technique and press resistance to retain the dribble. From there, his favorite creation is short passes through to overlapping runners to create crosses or to penetrate the box for an assist of a near post finish, either via the ground or on a chip. When finishing, Farnos’ quick feet allows him to pull the trigger quickly from inside and outside the box, sometimes being blocked due to the decision to go first time being rushed. He most often finishes for placement, displaying admirable ball striking technique. Picking up a versatile forward that has been trained within CFG will be a mutually beneficial reunion after Farnos’ brief hiatus.
(Pick 87 Orlando) Takahiro Fujita, RB, Marshall
Fujita is the final pick of note, having been a force in the College Cup defending and distributing from the right flank on the way to an appearance in the final. He is quite tall for a fullback, so he could end up as a center back in a back three given his comfort distributing out from the back to progress rather than relying on ball carrying or flank-stretching runs. Despite Fujita’s preference to stay back when attacking and primarily creating from the base of midfield, he still added a goal from 15 shots along with 2 assists. Defensively, he thrives in 1v1s out wide, playing front footed and utilizing his length and above average physicality for the level to be an aggressive on ball presence. The sophomore only had one yellow card despite his play style. On the contrary, lower body injuries knocked him out of back-to-back games to end the season, so Fujita could be a fitness concern. The 6’2” defender is a low risk, high reward late selection who will likely return to a successful Thundering Herd program to continue his development.
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