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Next Pro News

@nextpronews.bsky.social

790 followers 230 following 440 posts

Next Pro News tracks and shares the latest MLS Next Pro news and rumors. We are in no way affiliated with the league or MLS itself. https://linktr.ee/nextpronews 🔗: https://nextpronews.substack.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 21h

🔗 - New Article!

The league announced today that a 7th independent club has officially joined the league and will be located in Long Island, NY.

Say hello to (i) The Island F.C.
open.substack.com/pub/nextpron...

Long Island, NY joins MLS NEXT Pro as the seventh independent club

MLS NEXT Pro held another “Special Announcement” today, and like previous events this one was related to expansion.

open.substack.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 17h

🤦‍♂️ Fred Popp (part of the ownership/leadership) literally started and ran a sports-focused design studio at one point. What are we doing.

The rest of their design and website was well done at least (and avoided AI lol)

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 20h

Not 100% clear at the moment. I was hoping Zaratin would make a quick comment about the RRs but I didn’t catch anything. I wouldn’t expect any major changes though.

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 21h

Long Island, NY joins MLS NEXT Pro as the seventh independent club

MLS NEXT Pro held another “Special Announcement” today, and like previous events this one was related to expansion.

open.substack.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 21h

MLSNP now has 8 unofficial independent clubs:

1. Chattanooga FC (✅)
2. Carolina Core FC (✅)
3. CT United FC (⌛️)
4. Jacksonville Armada (⏳)
5. Cleveland Pro Soccer (⏳)
6. AC Grand Rapids (⏳)
7. Long Island Pro Soccer (⏳)
8. Golden City FC (⏰ - unofficial)

And not done yet... 👀

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 21h

Live announcement event is starting soon and the broadcast can be found here:

www.youtube.com/live/0Za_eIe...

Reposted by Next Pro News

Alexander Abnos @anabnos.com · 22h

Wrote some blurbs on Americans Jude Terry and Julian Hall for @sport.theguardian.com NextGen 2025 - One of my favorite features we do: www.theguardian.com/football/ng-...

Next Generation 2025: 60 of the best young talents in world football

From PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye to Brazil’s next hope, Gabriel Mec, we select some of the most talented players born in 2008

www.theguardian.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 22h

🔎 - Per sources, today’s Special Announcement will unveil a new independent expansion club has been awarded in Long Island, NY

- The ownership is heavily tied to USL2 club LI RoughRiders
- New 2.5k stadium planned (expandable to 5k)
- 2027 launch date

I’ll have much more detail in an article.

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 1d

Yep. My initial assumption was also GCFC given they’re due for a “Special Announcement” soon (it’s weird they haven’t had one). But based on what I’m hearing it won’t be them

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 1d

FWIW, I’m actually now leaning towards it being a different expansion project..

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 1d

👀 There will be another “Special Announcement” tomorrow at 11am EST..

These “Special Announcement” events have been specifically for formal expansion announcements to date.

Reposted by Next Pro News

Johann Huntera @chattwjonathan.bsky.social · 9d

Chattanooga FC wins!

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 19d

Is anyone shocked? I’m certainly not 🤦‍♂️

Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 19d

Just realized it’s been 14 days since Jason Levien told people at the DCU season ticket member Q&A event on Sept. 11th that they were 48 hours away from announcing their MLS Next Pro partnership

We haven’t heard a thing since that event

lol
lmao

Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 28d

Levien told folks at an STM Q&A last Thursday that the new Next Pro partnership would be announced in 48 hours and we’ve blown past that deadline so the answer is

“Idk lol?”

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 19d

👀🤐

Matt Philpott @mattphilpott.bsky.social · 19d

Hasn't officially been announced yet, but it appears this is the identity of the forthcoming MLS Next Pro team in Grand Rapids: www.acgrandrapids.com

AC Grand Rapids – AC Grand Rapids

www.acgrandrapids.com

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 19d

👀👀 On Saturday at 2:00pm the 2027 independent expansion club based in Grand Rapids, MI will drop the “West Michigan Soccer” placeholder and officially unveil their name.

www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

New Grand Rapids pro soccer team name: Public reveal planned for Saturday

The MLS Next Pro expansion team will play at the new 8,500-seat Amway Stadium currently under construction near U.S. 131 and Lake Michigan Drive NW.

www.mlive.com

Reposted by Next Pro News

Jonathan Tannenwald @jtannenwald.bsky.social · 25d

This is a good read, but doesn't solve the biggest problem in CF Montréal's infrastructure: a lack of a proper reserve team to put all those young talents in before they're ready to play at the top level.

Charles Boehm ⚽️ @cboehm.bsky.social · 25d

“Quebec is changing, and it's represented in the sports people play.”

I took a fascinating dive into one of North America's most interesting soccer communities - the thriving, profoundly multinational scene in Greater Montréal.

30 Clubs, 30 Stories goes nord:

www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-mont...

CF Montréal: Harnessing the city’s vibrant soccer culture(s) | MLSSoccer.com

Walk inside Centre Nutrilait, a century-old edifice tucked between Rue Notre-Dame and the St. Lawrence River which was once a firehouse but now serves as CF Montréal’s training facility, and you’ll se...

www.mlssoccer.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 27d

A lot of really great MLSNP related questions and answers here. Credit to the author for not asking a general question and then moving on, but asking good follow-up questions to get more details.

Donald Wine II @blazindw.bsky.social · 28d

I had a chance today to sit down exclusively with #DCU's Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan to discuss the direction of the team, an update on MLS Next Pro, and how they can get fans and diehard supporters back onboard through improved performance.

For @districtpressdc.bsky.social ⤵️

The District Press @districtpressdc.bsky.social · 28d

It's been a disappointing DC United season, and the owners are finally speaking up about the club's struggles. @blazindw.bsky.social sits down with #DCU owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan for an in depth interview on what the club's path forward will be to rebuild the trust of the fans.

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Reposted by Next Pro News

Josh Nye @joshnye8798.bsky.social · 28d

Despite clinching a spot in the playoffs, Richie Williams and #NERevsII’s foot is still on the gas pedal as they look to finish the 2025 strong!
open.substack.com/pub/thebentm...

Richie Williams Remaining Focused After Clinching Playoff Spot

Hear what Williams had to say after Friday's win over Toronto FC II and the remainder of the 2025 season.

open.substack.com

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 28d

FWIW this would not surprise me at all, especially if it’s more than just 2 or 3 players loaned down a year.

I can’t see Chattanooga agreeing to anything beyond that, but Carolina strikes me as a club who might.

(Connecticut also does, but the owners said “existing” at the STM meeting)

Steven Goff @stevengoff.bsky.social · 28d

Jason Levien told Fox5 that D.C. United — which is one of three MLS teams without an MLS Next Pro squad — will partner with an independent MLSNP team. I’m guessing Eddie Pope’s Carolina Core.

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 28d

lol what a mess… 🤦‍♂️

Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · 28d

It’s not mentioned in this thread, but in this interview the owners also confirm there is some sort of partnership in place to have an MLSNP team and it should be announced “soon”

Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 28d

So D.C. United's owners sat down with our local Fox 5 affiliate and for whatever reason, Fox uploaded the entire 15 min interview uncut

I watched the whole thing & will post some highlights I noticed of the entire thing
www.fox5dc.com/video/1708677

first up, the opening they forgot to clip (1/#)

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Reposted by Next Pro News

CapyBrava @capybrava.bsky.social · Sep 13

Wake up babe, new
Capy just dropped.

Koné, 23, comes from the top flight in the French FUTSAL league and has played for his national team.

#CapyCrew | #Crew96 | #Futsal

www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbu...

Columbus Crew 2 sign French forward Inza Koné | Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew 2 sign French forward Inza Koné

www.columbuscrew.com

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Reposted by Next Pro News

St Louis CITY SC @stlcitysc.com · Sep 12

Let’s go, Seth! 👏

We have signed CITY2 midfielder Seth Antwi to a first team contract through the end of the 2025 MLS season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

🗞️ www.stlcitysc.com/news/st-loui...

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · Sep 12

The more I think about this, there are really two options:

1) Partner with Chattanooga (maybe Carolina) for a handful of players. DCU has already sent Turner to CFC

2) Partner with expansion club CT Utd. Win-win for both sides (DC keeps kids close / CT has lower cost while they get off the ground)

hoyasdcu.bsky.social @hoyasdcu.bsky.social · Sep 11

Partner with existing MLS Next Pro team, while continuing to work with Maryland government. #dcu

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Next Pro News @nextpronews.bsky.social · Sep 12

👀👀

hoyasdcu.bsky.social @hoyasdcu.bsky.social · Sep 11

Partner with existing MLS Next Pro team, while continuing to work with Maryland government. #dcu

Reposted by Next Pro News

SixOneFive Soccer @sixonefivesoccer.com · Sep 11

Nashville SC have signed defender Jordan Knight to an MLS contract from Huntsville City FC.

www.sixonefivesoccer.com/nashville-sc...

Nashville SC sign Huntsville City defender Jordan Knight

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC have made a late addition to their roster, signing defender Jordan Knight to an MLS contract through 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028. The Ontario, Canada,…

www.sixonefivesoccer.com

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