Top unsigned players from 2008 class

It’s becoming pretty clear how this story will end. Johnson has trialed with PSV multiple times and has not been getting the MLS Next Pro minutes you’d expect for a player of his caliber—especially given how much Philadelphia pushes top prospects to the second team. That suggests they know he’s leaving and aren’t prioritizing him. Unless something drastic changes, I fully expect Johnson to join PSV when he turns 18 next summer. Another year of academy soccer isn’t ideal for him, but I don’t see many other options.

Gitau’s path is also coming into focus. His older brother is at Mainz, and I suspect Leo will head to Germany when he turns 18—likely to join his brother there. He turns 18 in March.

Wesseh burst onto the scene last season and has been highly impactful in MLS Next Pro this year. Given his success, I expect Atlanta United to push for a hybrid MLS Next Pro/Homegrown deal, aiming to get it done before the end of the calendar year.

Griffin was born late in 2008, meaning he wouldn’t start college until August 2027—but I doubt college is in his plans. Philly lacks a young left back in their pipeline, and Griffin has been playing regularly in MLS Next Pro, suggesting the club is interested in signing him. I expect a MLS Next Pro/Homegrown deal before year’s end.

Preston is committed to UCLA and hasn’t logged many MLS Next Pro minutes this season. He was under the radar until a USYNT call-up last spring put him on more radars. He impressed with the U.S. U-17s, and if the winger pool wasn’t so deep, he might be in the mix for a U-17 World Cup spot. Winger is a tough position to break into in MLS—especially at LA Galaxy, who often spend heavily there. My guess is he heads to UCLA next fall, or possibly abroad before then.

Rivera is one of the younger 2008s and won’t need to decide on college for another two years. He holds a Lithuanian passport and could move to Europe now if the right opportunity arose. Rivera isn’t widely known, but FC Cincinnati rates him, and if he has a big year, they could look to sign him to a MLS Next Pro/Homegrown deal.

Cornelius is a bit of a question mark. I don’t believe he’s committed to a college program, and he hasn’t played much in MLS Next Pro this season. He turns 18 in January 2026, so his options will open up soon.