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Why full-back and central midfield roles offer opportunity
For fullbacks and central midfielders, MLS clubs are much more willing to trust young players. These spots have key advantages:
Lower spending priority: Clubs invest heavily in attacking players but often look to fill defensive and midfield roles more affordably, including with homegrowns.
Rotation: Fullbacks and midfielders rotate more often because of the physical demands of the positions.
Lower risk: Coaches feel they can more easily "hide" an inexperienced fullback or central midfielder inside a veteran team structure.
The result: If you’re a smart, athletic fullback or a reliable defensive mid, you’ll probably get chances quickly.
Lower spending priority: Clubs invest heavily in attacking players but often look to fill defensive and midfield roles more affordably, including with homegrowns.
Rotation: Fullbacks and midfielders rotate more often because of the physical demands of the positions.
Lower risk: Coaches feel they can more easily "hide" an inexperienced fullback or central midfielder inside a veteran team structure.
The result: If you’re a smart, athletic fullback or a reliable defensive mid, you’ll probably get chances quickly.
Center-backs and goalkeepers: trust and experience matter
It’s consistently difficult for young center-backs and goalkeepers to break through at the professional level across global football—not just in MLS. If you play one of these positions, expect a tough path no matter where you are.
Mistakes are punished more severely, and coaches tend to prioritize experience over potential. Opportunities are limited, especially since these roles are rarely rotated: center-backs seldom come off the field, and goalkeepers almost never do.
On top of that, the physical demands are high—competing against fully grown adults while you’re still developing can be a major hurdle.
Unless you're truly elite and physically ahead of your peers, earning playing time as a U-21 will be a serious challenge.
Mistakes are punished more severely, and coaches tend to prioritize experience over potential. Opportunities are limited, especially since these roles are rarely rotated: center-backs seldom come off the field, and goalkeepers almost never do.
On top of that, the physical demands are high—competing against fully grown adults while you’re still developing can be a major hurdle.
Unless you're truly elite and physically ahead of your peers, earning playing time as a U-21 will be a serious challenge.
Attackers: blocked by big signings and unique roster construction
Every MLS club has designated player (DP) slots where they do not have limits on how much they can spend on those players. These roster spots are almost always used on attacking players: strikers, wingers, and attacking midfielders. Plus, the U22 initiative encourages clubs to sign promising young international attackers.
These unique rules, along with MLS' salary cap restrictions, create very attack heavy rosters. Clubs are heavily invested financially and reputationally in their attackers, making it hard for homegrown players to break in unless they are exceptional.
In European leagues, developing and selling young attackers is often part of the club’s identity and financial survival.
In MLS, where there's no relegation but every team fights for the playoffs, winning now matters more than developing a future transfer sale. Coaches have little patience for young attackers learning on the job.
These unique rules, along with MLS' salary cap restrictions, create very attack heavy rosters. Clubs are heavily invested financially and reputationally in their attackers, making it hard for homegrown players to break in unless they are exceptional.
In European leagues, developing and selling young attackers is often part of the club’s identity and financial survival.
In MLS, where there's no relegation but every team fights for the playoffs, winning now matters more than developing a future transfer sale. Coaches have little patience for young attackers learning on the job.
Why Europe often makes more sense for attackers
In Europe, smaller clubs are often incentivized to play and sell young attackers. Developing a teenage forward who nets a $10 million transfer can fund a club’s future. It’s a built-in part of their survival.
In MLS, without relegation and with playoff races dictating short-term decision-making, there’s far less incentive to take risks on young attacking players. This is why, for many top young American attackers, pursuing opportunities abroad can offer a faster, clearer path to playing time and growth.
In MLS, without relegation and with playoff races dictating short-term decision-making, there’s far less incentive to take risks on young attacking players. This is why, for many top young American attackers, pursuing opportunities abroad can offer a faster, clearer path to playing time and growth.
Real-world examples
MLS homegrown academy attackers who’ve played significant minutes and been sold abroad remain rare.
Alphonso Davies—arguably the most talented player ever developed within MLS—came up as a winger at Vancouver Whitecaps before his transfer to Bayern Munich.
Ricardo Pepi, the only homegrown striker to achieve major success in MLS and a true blue-chip prospect, was sold to FC Augsburg.
Brenden Aaronson broke through at Philadelphia Union as an attacking midfielder and moved to Red Bull Salzburg.
Kevin Paredes played as a left wing-back for D.C. United before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg, so he really wasn't a true attacking player while in MLS.
Cade Cowell earned early minutes with the San Jose Earthquakes but didn’t attract enough European demand and ultimately transferred to Chivas in Liga MX in 2024.
Beyond these few examples, most attacking homegrowns either stagnate, remain stuck in MLS, or move abroad on free or low-fee transfers rather than commanding big-money European moves.
Supporting this point, in my latest U.S.-eligible U21 impact rankings, only one of the top 10 players is an attacker — Quinn Sullivan.
Alphonso Davies—arguably the most talented player ever developed within MLS—came up as a winger at Vancouver Whitecaps before his transfer to Bayern Munich.
Ricardo Pepi, the only homegrown striker to achieve major success in MLS and a true blue-chip prospect, was sold to FC Augsburg.
Brenden Aaronson broke through at Philadelphia Union as an attacking midfielder and moved to Red Bull Salzburg.
Kevin Paredes played as a left wing-back for D.C. United before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg, so he really wasn't a true attacking player while in MLS.
Cade Cowell earned early minutes with the San Jose Earthquakes but didn’t attract enough European demand and ultimately transferred to Chivas in Liga MX in 2024.
Beyond these few examples, most attacking homegrowns either stagnate, remain stuck in MLS, or move abroad on free or low-fee transfers rather than commanding big-money European moves.
Supporting this point, in my latest U.S.-eligible U21 impact rankings, only one of the top 10 players is an attacker — Quinn Sullivan.
Final advice
If you are a top MLS academy player or parent or guardian of one and you are currently assessing a MLS contract against other options with your agent, your position should heavily influence your decision.
If you are a full-back, central or defensive midfielder, evidence would suggest that you may have a good opportunity breaking through in MLS and starting your professional career in a very positive way.
If you are center-back or goalkeeper, consider what clubs have a history of giving early chances to those positions, whether that is in MLS or elsewhere.
If you are an attacking player, I be very weary of signing in MLS. Your best opportunities may lie outside MLS, particularly in Europe where development structures better support young attackers.
If you are a full-back, central or defensive midfielder, evidence would suggest that you may have a good opportunity breaking through in MLS and starting your professional career in a very positive way.
If you are center-back or goalkeeper, consider what clubs have a history of giving early chances to those positions, whether that is in MLS or elsewhere.
If you are an attacking player, I be very weary of signing in MLS. Your best opportunities may lie outside MLS, particularly in Europe where development structures better support young attackers.
