Last week, Major League Soccer announced its list of eligible players for the variety of “re-entry mechanisms” it employs to allocate players to clubs each offseason, from full free agents to end-of-year waivers to players who’ll be subjected to another draft for their rights.

It also offered clubs in the USL Championship and League One a list of players they could look to add in the coming weeks as part of their roster builds. This time last year, players like Sebastian Anderson were available, and the full back went on to play a key role for Hartford Athletic in its return to the postseason and victory in the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup.

As usual, there will be some names that jump out, including those who’ve spent time on loan in the league in the past campaign or seasons prior. We’re also going to limit our options to players who are currently 23 years old and younger, with the aim of finding that next player who’s just in need of the right situation to flourish at an age where they could still be upwardly mobile in the bigger picture.

Here are 13 players who could make a mark in the 2026 season.

Fernando Álvarez – Defender (22)

A native of New York, Fernando Álvarez spent the past three seasons with Club de Foot Montreal and logged 62 appearances across all competitions, including 53 in the MLS regular season. A center back, he has youth international pedigree, competing for Colombia at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023, and over the past season produced solid numbers in limited minutes, averaging 3.95 progressive passes per 90 minutes. As a left-footed center back, he could be a solid addition to a club’s back line to reset his career path.

Sam Bassett – Midfielder (22)

After a standout college career at the University of Denver – where he was voted Summit League Midfielder of the Year in his junior and senior seasons – Sam Bassett signed as a Homegrown Player with the Rapids last offseason and split time between the Rapids and Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. For the latter, he logged three goals and seven assists and ranked fourth in the league with a +1.13 Goals Added Above Average mark. With a strong goalscoring and creative pedigree – Bassett recorded 24 goals and 26 assists in college for the Pioneers – he could be an immediate impact player for the right club.

Michael Halliday – Defender (22)

A former Orlando City homegrown product – whose professional debut came in USL League One for Orlando City B as a 17-year-old in 2020 – Michael Halliday never quite caught on at most recent stop Houston Dynamo FC, making six appearances for Dynamo 2 in 2025 season. The right back has made 36 top-flight appearances in his career, though, and while his minutes were limited for Dynamo 2 he produced solid numbers while on the field. That could make him an intriguing target looking for a new face at full back.

Isaiah LeFlore – Defender (22)

Oftentimes, a player going out on loan from a club in Major League Soccer to a club in the USL Championship can serve as an audition for a potential next step. If that was the case for Isaiah LeFlore – who joined Detroit City on loan from the Philadelphia Union this past August – then it showed what the versatile defender could offer. LeFlore scored once and completed 11 dribbles at a 52.4 percent success rate while also winning 56.1 of his duels and putting up impressive per/90 numbers across the board defensively. That should attract suitors looking to bring him aboard.

Hugo Mbongue – Forward (21)

It’s fair to say Hugo Mbongue’s loan to Lexington SC didn’t really work out – he logged only 38 minutes in six appearances before heading back to Toronto FC. What happened in the second half of the season should have grabbed some attention, though, as the center forward headed to Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League and produced six goals and two assists in 900 minutes of league play while also finding the net against eventual CanPL title-winner Atletico Ottawa to help VFC reach the Final of the Canadian Championship. That breakout production could make Mbongue worth another look for the new season.

Shak Mohammed – Forward (22)

Over the past three seasons, Shak Mohammed has put up numbers for Orlando City B, recording 28 goals and five assists in MLS NEXT Pro across 77 appearances. Unfortunately for him, it’s not translated into First Team opportunities, with the versatile forward making only five First Team appearances for the Lions. With the manner production in MLSNP has at times panned out in the USL Championship, however, the former All-America First Team selection could be a strong option for a club looking to boost its attacking corps. Whether he turns into the next Taylor Calheira or MD Myers is too early to say, but it should certainly be worth checking out.

Curtis Ofori – Defender (20)

When Curtis Ofori signed with New York Red Bulls II in 2021, he became the youngest professional signing in the club’s history. Across 41 appearances in the USL Championship and another 37 in MLS NEXT Pro over the past five years, however, the full back didn’t quite make the jump that was hoped for into First Team minutes. Still only 20 years old, however, the New York native could have something to offer as he takes his next step, having logged a cumulative +4.25 Goals Added mark in 2,103 minutes in MLSNP over the past three seasons.

Mark O’Neill – Defender (23)

Over his first professional season, Mark O’Neill showed the quality he can bring to an organization on the field and in the locker room. He was named captain of Whitecaps FC 2 and as a center back recorded six goals and one assist to earn an MLS contract with the Whitecaps in September. He then added another three goals before the end of the season after going back on loan to WFC2, and ended the year ranked fifth among MLSNP center backs with a +6.07 Goals Added mark overall. Unfortunately, he then had his option for the 2026 MLS season declined. What the Colorado native showed should give him some good options for a next step in his career, though, potentially in the USL Championship.

Carl Sainté – Midfielder (23)

Having needed only five games with New Mexico United to be brought into FC Dallas’ organization in 2022, Carl Sainté headed on loan to Phoenix Rising this season and put together a solid campaign for club and country, helping Haiti reach the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Phoenix the Western Conference Semifinals in the postseason. The central midfielder had good numbers for Rising when he was on the field, too, winning 51 duels at a 63 percent success rate and 19 tackles at a 67.9 percent success rate in 1,498 minutes between call-ups. While he’ll likely be part of Les Grenadiers plans next summer, Sainté should be a good pick-up after his departure from Dallas.

Tarik Scott – Forward (20)

Arriving on loan at Monterey Bay FC late in the season, Tarik Scott couldn’t jumpstart the side into its first trip to the playoffs, but the energy he brought to the field jumped off the screen across his nine appearances. The FC Dallas homegrown product logged one goal and one assist, but consistently put himself into good positions, logging a 2.38 Expected Goals mark and +2.41 Goals Added mark across 576 minutes of action. Turning positive actions into tangible results will be the key for Scott at his next landing spot, but there’s clear potential that he could level up.

Hunter Sulte – Goalkeeper (23)

Over the past two seasons, we’ve seen plenty of Hunter Sulte on loan with Indy Eleven from the Portland Timbers. In 2024, things looked good from the 6-foot-7 shot-stopper. He recorded 73 saves at a save percentage of 69.9% and delivered a Goals Prevented mark of -2.14 and nine shutouts in 26 appearances. This past year, those numbers all dropped, with Sulte’s +6.42 Goals Prevented mark and 64.2% save percentage the most notable. At 23 years old, he’s still coming into his own, though. The hope for the club that signs him is his first year in Indy is indicative of his potential future performance.

Joey Zalinsky – Defender (22)

At certain points of his first professional season, Joey Zalinsky might have wondered whether he was coming or going. In all, the Second Round selection in the 2025 Major League Soccer SuperDraft made nine appearances for St. Louis CITY SC, another seven for reserve team St. Louis City 2 in MLS NEXT Pro and then ended the year on loan with Indy Eleven, where he logged another seven appearances. During his time with the Boys in Blue, the full back’s first appearance against Rhode Island FC might have been his best. As he heads on from St. Louis, though, finding somewhere he can find a positive rhythm could give us a chance to see what he’s got in full.

Rida Zouhir – Midfielder (22)

Coming off his season on loan with San Antonio FC in 2023, where he recorded eight goals and four assists and was a finalist for USL Championship Young Player of the Year, the future seemed bright for Rida Zouhir. Since then, playing for Club de Foot Montreal and D.C. United – who combined for 11 wins in MLS this season – while also having a loan stint with Birmingham Legion FC, his path hasn’t maintained the same course. At the same time, it’s hard to overlook the potential of the attacking midfielder, who has 10 goals, four assists and 52 chances created to his name in the USL-C across 2,499 minutes in the regular season. Zouhir could be a strong pick-up for the right club.