Nashville SC 2024-25 Offseason Recap
Image Credit: Nashville SC
Nashville SC entered the MLS offseason earlier than they ever have as a club in 2024, missing the playoffs for the very first time in their professional existence, dating back to USL. Gary Smith, the only full time manager the club has ever known, was fired on May 16th, but it took until July 22nd for Nashville to hire former USMNT and Philadelphia Union assistant BJ Callaghan as the club’s second full time manager.
By that point, it was basically too late. The team’s performances, particularly in the last five games or so, improved, but there just wasn’t enough time to claw back into the playoffs.
This sparked the beginning of what’s likely a two-offseason rebuild of the squad that took Nashville to Leagues Cup Final in 2023, in addition to a quarterfinal appearance in the US Open Cup in 2022, and two Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2020 and 2021.
My colleague Ben Wright over at Six One Five Soccer put together a Preseason Primer that you can read for free. Ben dives into the weeds a bit further than I’m going to here, but if you’re just looking for a rundown on the changes Nashville SC made over the offseason as we tick the clock into the final few weeks before the 2025 season, you’re in the right place.
Without further delay, let’s get into every move Nashville SC made this offseason, in addition to looking at the current state of the roster.
Transfers In:
Midfielder Edvard Tagseth (free transfer from Rosenborg)
Midfielder Bryan Acosta (unknown fee from Real España)
Midfielder Gaston Brugman (trade from LA Galaxy, in exchange for Sean Davis and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM)
Winger Maximus Ekk (free transfer from Huntsville City FC)
Fullback Andy Najar (unknown fee from CD Olimpico)
Centerback Jeisson Palacios (unknown fee from CD América)
Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez (claimed off waivers from Houston Dynamo)
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake (unknown fee from CD Castellón)
Transfers Out:
Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco (waived)
Goalkeeper Ben Martino (declined option)
Centerback Lukas MacNaughton (traded to DC United, in exchange for up to $200,000 in conditional GAM)
Centerback Brent Kallman (out of contract)
Fullback Shaq Moore (traded to FC Dallas, in exchange for up to $150,000 in conditional GAM)
Fullback Joey Skinner (declined option)
Midfielder Brian Anunga (declined option, signed with FC Cincinnati)
Midfielder Anìbal Godoy (declined option, signed with San Diego FC)
Midfielder Amar Sejdic (out of contract)
Midfielder Dru Yearwood (out of contract)
Midfielder Randall Leal (contract bought out, claimed off waivers by DC United)
Striker Forster Ajago (option declined, selected in Re-Entry Draft by Real Salt Lake)
Winger Woobens Pacius (loan to Tampa Bay Rowdies)
Current Roster:
AS OF PUBLICATION
Goalkeepers: Joe Willis, Xavier Valdez, Brian Schwake
Centerbacks: Walker Zimmerman, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, Jeisson Palacios, Chris Applewhite
Fullbacks: Julian Gaines, Dan Lovitz, Andy Najar, Taylor Washington
Midfielders: Patrick Yazbek, Edvard Tagseth, Alex Muyl, Gastón Brugman, Bryan Acosta, Isaiah Jones
Wingers/10s: Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg, Tyler Boyd, Jonathan Pérez, Maximus Ekk
Strikers: Sam Surridge, Teal Bunbury, Adem Sipic
Thoughts
Before I begin, again, let me state this is probably just part one of a two season rebuild. Nashville has a myriad of contracts up at the end of the 2025 season, including designated player Walker Zimmerman.
One would assume that Nashville would want to bring him back, but perhaps at a salary below DP level. If they do, that opens up the club’s third DP slot, enabling them to either sign another, or sign a fourth U-22 initiative player. All the talk since BJ Callaghan’s hiring about getting younger would lead you to believe perhaps the latter will be the case.
So really, the most interesting parts of this rebuilding process are probably still a whole season away. However, I do believe Nashville has generally gotten better. They also got a number of bad contracts off the books, such as those of Randall Leal, Sean Davis, and to a degree Shaq Moore.
Ultimately, this is a team with a lot of new pieces, many of whom are quite young, and will require time. Though, I do think by the time Lionel Messi and Inter Miami roll into the Music City on Decision Day, Nashville will have already booked their spot in the playoffs.