
2010 Top 20

July 2025
It’s still early, but the 2010 class currently projects as average compared to other post-COVID, MLS Next-era cohorts. It features an intriguing mix of high-upside physical profiles and smaller, highly technical players. There’s only one five-star prospect for now, though a few others could reach that level with continued positive development.
Midfield is the clear strength, especially at the eight and ten spots. There’s decent depth at winger and striker—though striker looks more promising—with several players capable of playing both roles. The backline is a concern: full-back lacks top-end talent and depth, while center-back has some depth but no standouts and limited physical tools. The keeper group has a couple of high potential players and slightly below average depth.
European-based players remain a relative unknown. I’ve only been able to study a few, with one in the top 20, but historically three to four end up in the top 20. Will Recupero impressed last season before moving to Germany, and Max Gordon, Titus Prince Veith, and Miles Aalbersberg all look like potential top options. More dual-nationals will likely emerge over time.
Overall, it’s a unique and intriguing group with potential to trend in either direction.
2010 Class at a Glance
4.48
Top 20 Average Rating
CM, AM, CF
Positional Strengths
CB, LB, RB
Positional Weaknesses
1. DM, Nathan Tchoumba, Colorado Rapids (↑1)
Rating: 5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Tchoumba is a uniquely elite young No. 6, blending rare height, quickness, and explosiveness with high-level technical skill, tactical intelligence, and a disruptive defensive presence.
2. AM, Vicente Garcia, LA Galaxy (↑2)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Garcia is a gifted young footballer with the versatility to thrive in any midfield role, blending refined technical skill, a cultured left foot, and impressive tenacity to outmaneuver physical opponents and consistently win back possession.
3. AM, Robert Turdean, Chicago Fire (No change)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇷🇴
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Turdean is a dynamic, quick-thinking attacking midfielder with elite ball control and creativity in tight spaces, whose impact lies almost entirely in attack with limited defensive contribution.
4. WING, Ikenna Chidebe, LA Galaxy (↑5)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇳🇬
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Chidebe is the top pure winger in his class—undersized but exceptionally quick and fluid—with elite technical skills as both a dribbler and passer, a strong defensive work ethic, and the potential to be a complete player at the next level despite size concerns.
5. CF, Da’vian Kimbrough, Sacramento Republic (↑2)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15, 🇲🇽 U-16
Kimbrough is a highly talented young player whose rare combination of size, athleticism, and technical skill makes him stand out, though he still needs to find consistency and fully assert himself—ideally in a free eight, midfield role.
6. CM, Abdoulaye Diop, Philadelphia Union (New addition)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇸🇳
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Diop is a rare physical and technical prospect—towering in stature yet nimble on the ball, with standout 1v1 dribbling and disruptive defensive reach—but needs to mature his decision-making and consistency to truly influence games at a high level.
7. CF, Jamil Danjaji, Columbus Crew (↓6)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Danjaji is a dynamic, versatile attacker whose pace, quick feet, and off-ball movement make him a constant threat, with five-star potential if he continues refining his touch, close control, and instincts—areas in which he’s already made notable strides.
8. AM, Kamil Castillo, DC United (↑3)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇩🇴
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Castillo is a dynamic young attacking midfielder with an exceptional blend of size, speed, technical skill, and relentless work rate, making him equally dangerous with and without the ball.
9. GK, Connor Dale, Inter Miami (↓1)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Dale is a physically gifted young goalkeeper with ideal size, quick footwork, explosive reactions, and strong distribution with both feet, but he must develop greater consistency and reduce mental lapses to reach his full potential.
10. CM, Ezra Mahteme, San Jose Earthquakes (New addition)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Mahteme is a dynamic and intelligent young midfielder whose rare blend of size, fluidity, soft feet, and intelligent off-ball movement make him a standout talent, with only consistency holding him back from elite status.
11. CF, Timoni Gbalajobi, Philadelphia Union (↑4)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇳🇬
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Gbalajobi is a physically dominant young striker with blistering pace and athleticism who excels at holding up play and creating chances through powerful runs, though he still needs to develop tighter ball control and greater vision in build-up play.
12. DM, David Ilevbare, Atlanta United (New addition)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇳🇬
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Ilevbare is a physically dominant and technically gifted young defensive midfielder, blending rare size, strength, and speed with elite footwork, passing range, and disruptive defensive instincts—making him a high-upside talent with exciting potential.
13. CM/AM, Matthew Arana, Houston Dynamo (↓3)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
Youth National Team: 🇲🇽 U-15
Arana, the top 1v1 dribbler in the 2010 class, excels at beating defenders from both central and wide areas and shows great touch as a passer, though he could become a more well-rounded player by improving his off-ball movement and defensive contributions.
14. CF, Jayden Kouadio, Philadelphia Union (↓2)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Kouadio is a super athletic, vertically threatening young striker with strong hold-up play and first touch, who works hard in the press but could still improve his playmaking.
15. GK, Jason Nemo, Chicago Fire (New addition)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
Nemo is a promising goalkeeping prospect known for his composure and technical ability on the ball, accurate distribution with both feet, strong command of his area, and above-average shot-stopping skills, despite having average size.
16. WING, Josh Boney, Barca Residency (↑2)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Boney is an imposing young winger whose rare combination of size, speed, and dribbling makes him a handful for peers, though he still needs to diversify his 1v1 moves to consistently dominate.
17. AM, Juan Martinez, LA Galaxy (↓1)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
Youth National Team: 🇲🇽 U-15
Martinez is an entertaining, technically gifted number ten with a penchant for creative flicks and backheel passes, but I’d like to see him translate his flair into more consistent, tangible impact on the game.
18. CM, Roman Avakian Gomez, FSV Mainz 05 (New addition)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 🇦🇲
Youth National Team: 🇦🇲 U-15
Gomez is a versatile, left-footed playmaker known for his 1v1 ability, creativity in tight spaces, and high defensive work rate, who has primarily played as a winger but is expected to transition into a midfield role for Mainz.
19. RB, Finn McCraney, Chicago Fire (New addition)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15
McCraney is a quick, agile right-back with a strong technical foundation and two-footed shooting ability, who defends with intelligent anticipation and aggression, using his savvy and effort to overcome a smaller frame.
20. CM, Lisandro Torres, LAFC (↓7)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-15, 🇲🇽 U-16
Torres is a technically sound midfielder with good instincts, football IQ, and a clean passing touch, making him impactful in possession. While his physical tools are solid, but not outstanding and he’s tidy on the ball, he isn’t especially impactful defensively.
Disclaimer
I have not had the opportunity to thoroughly scout the following players in the last 12-months. If you have full game film for any of these players from the last 12-months, please contact me at
marcus@ussoccercollective.com.
GK, Milan Johnson (Ajax), CB, Max Gordon (Bayer Leverkusen), CB, Titus Prince Veith (Eintracht Frankfurt), CB, Miles Aalbersberg (Ajax), CM, Ben Moskowitz (Leeds), CM, Andre Bistrain (AD Alcorcón), CM, Ivan Rihachi Tchekan (Hoffenheim), AM, Will Recupero (vBf Stuttgart), AM, Paxon Ruffin (Monterrey), AM, Anthony Applewhaite (Mainz), WING, Noah Sheriff Jr (ADO Den Haag), WING, Jonathan Puslecki (Heerenveen), WING, Jayden Eldridge (Nordsjaelland), CF, Tristan Büsching (HSV)
Scouting Approach
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