San Diego FC roster management and player contract updates

Strengthening the defensive core

Sporting director Tyler Heaps secured a contract extension for defender Manu Duah through the 2029-30 season, which includes a club option for 2030-31 to ensure the 21-year-old remains a core part of the squad for several years. Duah, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has 26 appearances and 24 starts this season. He scored his first professional goal in a 4-1 win over Pumas UNAM during the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. He also recorded one assist this season. Duah made his professional debut in a 5-3 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 25. During his 2025 debut season, he made 22 appearances and 20 starts, including three appearances in the 2025 Leagues Cup and five starts during the club’s run to the Western Conference Final. He also earned a spot on the MLS 22 Under 22 ranking in 2025. This defensive stability follows the club’s 2024 expansion draft, where it selected players like Hamady Diop and Jasper Loffelsend. The club also used the draft to trade for 24-year-old Brazilian forward Thiago Andrade from New York City FC in exchange for the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and $250,000 in conditional General Allocation Money. The club also selected Hosei Kijima from St. Louis CITY SC, a move that resulted in $50,000 of General Allocation Money for the Missouri club.

Offensive production and expansion picks

The roster contains several high-impact players. Anders Dreyer provides significant offense with 62 goal contributions in 60 appearances. He led the league in assists with 9 this season and recorded 44 key passes. His 2025 performance earned him the MLS Newcomer of the Year award after he tied the record for most goal contributions by a first-year player with 38. Dreyer also earned a coach’s selection for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game. He became the second-fastest player in league history to reach 20 career goals and 20 career assists. He has recorded 30 goals and 32 assists for the club. You already know the club relies on its Designated Players to drive the offense. Hirving Lozano, a World Cup veteran, remains a primary piece of the attack. However, the club declined options for Luca de la Torre and Franco Negri. Both players moved from starters to rotation players before leaving. This loss of depth in the squad creates a gap in the attacking rotation. The team finished its 2025 inaugural season with 63 points and 19 wins. The roster also includes 22-year-old Japanese attacker Hosei Kijima, who scored a 90th-minute winner against Houston Dynamo in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Contract status and star presence

Management must address several players whose contracts expire in 2026. The club previously exercised options for Pablo Sisniega, Anibal Godoy, and Ian Pilcher to maintain continuity. Sisniega played vital playoff games, while Godoy acted as a consistent starter throughout the season. Pilcher occupied the right-back slot. The club also exercised a permanent transfer option for Onni Valakari from Pafos FC. Valakari scored the first goal at Snapdragon Stadium against the Columbus Crew and finished with five goals and eight assists in 39 games. The roster faces more decisions as several players reach the end of their deals. Anibal Godoy is 36 and has played extensively in the defensive midfield position. Amahl Pellegrino, also 36, provides experience as a left winger. The club must decide if the youth players, such as 23-year-old Alejandro Alvarado, will receive new deals.

Will the club find replacements for the departing midfielders?