Tom Bogert
tombogert.bsky.social
Tom Bogert
@tombogert.bsky.social
⚽️ MLS and USMNT Insider for The Athletic, CBS Sports Golazo Network, Soccerwise and more
Reposted by Tom Bogert
Paul Rothrock explored all his options during free agency. He had more lucrative offers from other MLS teams and even had a chance to go to England. But after weighing the pros and cons, he decided Seattle was where he wanted to be.

www.sounderatheart.com/2026/01/paul...
January 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
🇦🇷 Sources: Atlanta United nearing deal to acquire Argentine left back Elias Baez from San Lorenzo.

Not totally agreed yet but close. Fee would be around $3m and Baez would join via U-22 initiative.

Baez, 21, has made 60 apps for San Lorenzo's first team.
January 5, 2026 at 10:28 PM
🇺🇸 Sources: Norwegian club Fredrikstad SK will sign rising American attacker Gabriel Wesseh.

Wesseh turns 18 in May... will join then.

Wesseh had 4g/7a in MLS Next Pro with Atlanta United's second team this year. Atlanta wanted to keep him, but Wesseh will head to Fredrikstad.
January 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
The New York Red Bulls and center back Alexander Hack have agreed to a mutual contract termination.

The move frees up key salary cap space for RBNY
January 5, 2026 at 4:05 PM
It was admirable that Wilfried Nancy didn't want to leave the Columbus Crew during the middle of season.

But joining a European club in this time period, with midweek games essentially every week, did not give him any time to implement make changes in training. Needs a preseason
BREAKING: Celtic has sacked Wilfried Nancy after about a month in charge.
January 5, 2026 at 3:32 PM
BREAKING: Celtic has sacked Wilfried Nancy after about a month in charge.
January 5, 2026 at 3:17 PM
🇷🇴 Sources: D.C. United has completed a club-record deal to sign Romanian int'l forward Louis Munteanu from CFR Cluj.

Deal around $7m + add-ons which could take total fee to $10m.

Big signing for D.C.
January 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Sporting KC is finalizing a deal to name Rapha Wicky the club's next head coach, sources say.

Wicky was most recently head coach at BSC Young Boys.

This is SKC's first permanent head coach following legend Peter Vermes leaving the club. www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Sporting KC to name Raphael Wicky next head coach: Sources
Sporting KC is finalizing a deal with Raphael Wicky, who won the Swiss Super League with Young Boys and previously coached the Chicago Fire.
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:06 PM
The Philadelphia Union signed Kai Wagner for $50k fee + $20k add-ons from German third tier in 2019

Wagner won two Supporters' Shields with Philly & was named two MLS Best XI twice

A unique attacking presence for the system. One of the best value signings in recent MLS history
Kai Wagner has joined Birmingham City from the Philadelphia Union.

I'm told fee north of $2m.

When Wagner signed his new contract, the club promised Wagner and his camp that if an offer of this value came from England, they would accept.

Union honored that promise. Club will sign new LB now
January 2, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Riqui Puig is one of the best players in MLS, but that's not the whole story to his stardom. He's one of the most fun too. His style + passion. An easy fan favorite.

Injury news sucks. Hopefully he'll be back to 100% before we know it
BREAKING: LA Galaxy star Riqui Puig will undergo knee surgery and his status for 2026 is in question, per sources.

Same knee from torn ACL at end of 2024 which kept him out all of 2025.

Brutal, brutal news for one of the league's best players. www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
LA Galaxy's Puig set for knee surgery
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Tom Bogert
Free Newsletter: A look back at 2025, and a lookahead at preseason coverage (yes, it's that time already).

Plus the Galaxy have sadly already lost a bunch of their POWER. Maybe. (But hopefully not)
open.substack.com/pub/tacticsf...
Happy New Year! Here's a look at what's in the immediate future
Plus some grades, and some thoughts on the Riqui Puig news
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Kai Wagner has joined Birmingham City from the Philadelphia Union.

I'm told fee north of $2m.

When Wagner signed his new contract, the club promised Wagner and his camp that if an offer of this value came from England, they would accept.

Union honored that promise. Club will sign new LB now
January 2, 2026 at 8:39 PM
🇺🇸 BREAKING: Austin FC has signed USYNT star Owen Wolff to a new, long-term contract, per sources.

Wolff's new deal is U-22 initiative. Reward for one of the team's most consistent and key players.

Wolff, 21, had career best 7g/8a in 34 MLS regular season apps in 2025
January 2, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Tom Bogert
gonna go ahead and also holler about the Soccer starter pack made by my crew @kickbacksoccer.bsky.social for anyone new joining Bluesky and looking for soccer voices out there go.bsky.app/MvuMY81
January 2, 2026 at 7:36 PM
BREAKING: LA Galaxy star Riqui Puig will undergo knee surgery and his status for 2026 is in question, per sources.

Same knee from torn ACL at end of 2024 which kept him out all of 2025.

Brutal, brutal news for one of the league's best players. www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
LA Galaxy's Puig set for knee surgery
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:19 PM
🇩🇰 Sources: Philadelphia Union finalizing deal to sign center back Sery Larsen from Brann. BT Sporten 1st.

Larsen, 25, made 98 apps for Brann. Former Denmark youth int’l. Key new center back signing for Philly.
January 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Sources: Charleston Battery finalizing a deal to sign USYNT winger Colton Swan.

Swan, 18, was previously with Colorado Rapids academy and starred for Indiana University this year.
January 2, 2026 at 3:40 PM
🇷🇴 Sources: D.C. United is finalizing a club-record deal to sign Romanian int'l forward Louis Munteanu from CFR Cluj.

Deal around $7m + add-ons to take total fee to $10m
January 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sources: Charlotte FC want Liverpool's Harvey Elliott on potential loan deal until summer, if the player would be open to it @fabriziorom.bsky.social 1st.

Elliott on loan at Aston Villa but not playing. Can't join another European club on loan, but can come to MLS
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Charlotte interest in Harvey Elliott as Villa seek to terminate loan from Liverpool
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:49 PM
🇦🇺 Sources: Portland Timbers finalizing a deal to sign Australian center back Alex Bonetig from Western Sydney Wanderers.

Bonetig, 23, has made 59 first team apps for the club. Athletic CB.

He's been called into Australia national team but hasn't debuted yet
January 1, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Philadelphia Union did replace many of these players (and won the 2025 Supporters Shield along the way)

🇬🇭 Ezekiel Alladoh (club record fee)
🇺🇾 Bruno Damiani (previous club record fee)
🇷🇸 Jovan Lukic
🇺🇸 Indiana Vassilev
🇺🇸 Milan Iloski
🇺🇸 Finn Sundstrom
🇨🇴 Geiner Martinez
🐍 Since end of 2024, the Philadelphia Union has moved on from:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jack Elliott (Chicago Fire)
🇺🇸 Leon Flach (Jagiellonia Białystok)
🇺🇸 Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo)
🇭🇺 Daniel Gazdag (Columbus Crew)
🇮🇱 Tai Baribo (D.C. United)
🇳🇴 Jakob Glesnes (LA Galaxy)
🇩🇰 Mikael Uhre (FA)
🇩🇪 Kai Wagner (Birmingham City🔜)
🇩🇪 Birmingham City are finalizing a deal to sign left back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union, sources confirm @josernunez91.bsky.social's scoop.

Wagner, 28, made 251 apps for the Union. One of the league's best left backs.
January 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Tom Bogert
I could make a case that the only one of these to have really been for a bad reason is Elliott. If Jakob Glesnes hadn’t had another guaranteed year on his contract, Elliott easily might have stayed in town.

Flach is closest to second place, as he left in part for non-soccer reasons.
🐍 Since end of 2024, the Philadelphia Union has moved on from:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jack Elliott (Chicago Fire)
🇺🇸 Leon Flach (Jagiellonia Białystok)
🇺🇸 Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo)
🇭🇺 Daniel Gazdag (Columbus Crew)
🇮🇱 Tai Baribo (D.C. United)
🇳🇴 Jakob Glesnes (LA Galaxy)
🇩🇰 Mikael Uhre (FA)
🇩🇪 Kai Wagner (Birmingham City🔜)
🇩🇪 Birmingham City are finalizing a deal to sign left back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union, sources confirm @josernunez91.bsky.social's scoop.

Wagner, 28, made 251 apps for the Union. One of the league's best left backs.
January 1, 2026 at 2:41 PM
🐍 Since end of 2024, the Philadelphia Union has moved on from:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jack Elliott (Chicago Fire)
🇺🇸 Leon Flach (Jagiellonia Białystok)
🇺🇸 Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo)
🇭🇺 Daniel Gazdag (Columbus Crew)
🇮🇱 Tai Baribo (D.C. United)
🇳🇴 Jakob Glesnes (LA Galaxy)
🇩🇰 Mikael Uhre (FA)
🇩🇪 Kai Wagner (Birmingham City🔜)
🇩🇪 Birmingham City are finalizing a deal to sign left back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union, sources confirm @josernunez91.bsky.social's scoop.

Wagner, 28, made 251 apps for the Union. One of the league's best left backs.
January 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
🇩🇪 Birmingham City are finalizing a deal to sign left back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union, sources confirm @josernunez91.bsky.social's scoop.

Wagner, 28, made 251 apps for the Union. One of the league's best left backs.
January 1, 2026 at 12:29 AM
I genuinely do not understand how FIFA allows teams who have not paid the transfer fee for a player to THEN receive money for transferring that player again.

Botafogo with Almada (then to Atletico Madrid)
Boavista with Robert Bozenik (and I'm sure 10 other players)
🇧🇷 FIFA officially hit Botafogo with a transfer ban for failing to pay Atlanta United for 2024 transfer of Thiago Almada

- Botafogo needs to pay ATL $22.5m to remove ban (initial $21m fee + $1.5m interest)
- Botafogo still owes ATL another $9m in add-ons
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Botafogo given transfer ban over unpaid MLS record Almada fee to Atlanta
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:26 PM