In Part 1 of the FC Dallas 2025 project I talked about an in flux roster. Some of that is the way MLS is constructed, with clubs having power over younger players via almost endless options. For Dallas specifically though, a lot of pieces came up at the same time. This by itself gives the Toros’ new coach and front office flexibility when building the next iteration of the squad.

That doesn’t mean the entire roster is as such. Like all teams Dallas has a fair amount of players on bigger deals, including a trio each of Designated Players and TAM (Targeted Allocation Money) players. Those are meant to be building blocks of a franchise, the biggest money players who produce when the chips are down.

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For FC Dallas however they have some issues with these highly compensated players. Some of it is fit, some of it is production for the salary, and even in a couple cases some are flat out bargains. It’s not all bad, promise!

Contract length and designations come from MLS’ Club Roster Profiles updated on September 17th. All stats come from FBRef and are current as of November 6th, 2024. All salary information comes from the MLS Players Salary Guide which is current to September 13, 2024.

Senior Roster

Paul Arriola

The FC Dallas captain is a TAM player whose contract expires after the 2025 season with an option for 2026. His Guaranteed Compensation for 2024 was $1,729,400. Arriola had five goals and two assists in 31 appearances and 28 starts in 2024.

By all metrics, Arriola’s 2024 was a recovery from 2023 that featured injuries and inconsistency. His willingness to play multiple positions aided Dallas despite what can be called a failed formation change. Arriola spent time at wing back, right back, winger, and attacking midfielder at different times this past season.

Arriola is a consummate professional, an asset to any team both on and off the pitch. He turns 30 next February and with his deal potentially expiring it’ll be a prove it year for the captain. If Dallas decides to go younger with their roster next year, he’d be a great person to help guide those players into the next phase.

That said, if the new coach doesn’t have a defined role for Arriola his salary number could be something the front office considers. Teams have inquired about his availability before, most notable the LA Galaxy in 2023. A California native, one could wonder if cash flush expansion side San Diego FC might want to bring him home. While I have zero inclination that Arriola wants to leave, he’s at that stage of his career where everything is on the table. Every player goes through it, that’s part of the ride.

If I had to predict, I’d say Arriola is still with FC Dallas as the 2025 season begins. There’s a chance Dallas gets blown away with a deal from an MLS club or maybe a Liga MX club (Arriola spent five years with Tijuana to start his career), and in that case a decision would need to be made. Those feel like outside possibilities however, so expect Arriola to be leading the Toros onto the pitch in late February 2025. Where he’ll be on the team sheet will be an answer the new coaching staff will need to solidify.

Manuel “Show” Cafumana

Show ends up in this part because his loan deal doesn’t expire until next June. The Angolan national is on loan from Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli League. He got into seven matches with FC Dallas, with six starts. His Guaranteed Compensation for 2024 was $504,350, although by joining midseason Dallas paid a prorated version of that.

Show is a curious case. He entered into a MASH unit of a midfield for Dallas, and as such wasn’t in the ideal scenario to show off. That makes his time in 2025 critical, because he’ll have roughly four and a half months to convince the front office he’s worth giving a permanent deal.

One thing working against Show is he takes up an international slot. As of this writing Dallas has eight internationals, but could free up three slots with various contract decisions. All of this adds more pressure on Show. If he’s not up to snuff come next June, Dallas could just let the loan expire and go into the summer window looking for a different option for that slot.

The midfield in general is a chaotic situation for Dallas. Asier Illarramendi is out of contract and is probably a one year at a time proposition at his age. Paxton Pomykal is recovering from major knee surgery, making him a huge question mark even at 25. There’s youth on the way such as Nolan Norris and Diego Garcia, but overall there’s minimal if any certainty in the center of the pitch for the Toros. That works to Show’s advantage. If he can stabilize that area with consistent play and production, his odds of staying in Frisco go up. It’ll be a storyline to watch as the season goes through its early stages.

Geovane Jesus

The U22 Brazilian defender didn’t play at all in 2024 due to a torn ACL suffered in July 2023. His contract runs through 2026 with an option for 2027. His Guaranteed Compensation for 2024 was $347,000, but as a U22 his cap hit was not his full salary.

It’s hard to make any judgement on Jesus since he played zero minutes in 2024, despite suffering his injury well before Alan Velasco who did return. Injury recovery isn’t linear and without being privy to his medical records there’s not much to say.

The best case scenario is Jesus needed extra time but will be ready for 2025, where he can move into a right back spot that needs someone to seize it or slides into a three man back line which he played at Cruzeiro prior to his Frisco arrival. The worst case is despite being young, the ACL injury has set him back so far that he never competes for a job again.

If it’s the latter or even close to it, it’s a real shame. There were promising signs to Jesus’ game prior to his injury, due in large part to his other worldly athleticism. That doesn’t mean he won’t achieve the heights the front office thinks he might, but the longer he sits out the harder it’ll be. One thing going for him: he’s in his early 20s. Time in general is on his side. But until there’s clarification on his status, there’s not much more to say.

Marco Farfan

Dallas’ consistent defender has his deal expire after 2025 with an option for 2026. The flex defender appeared in 26 games with 23 starts. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $544,813.

Farfan is another victim of the formation changes Dallas experimented with in 2024. The natural left back played both left wing back and left center back this campaign. The former didn’t work consistently, and the latter showed some promise but the season ended as that promise emerged.

Betting against the soon to be 26 year old isn’t something I’m inclined to do. One of Dallas’ hardest workers, there’s few if any who will bust his buns more to contribute than Farfan. The question becomes what does Dallas want to play as its primary formation next year. If it’s a four man backline, Farfan is first on the selection sheet at left back with Sam Junqua spelling him as needed. It’d be his best utilization by far, one that saw him succeed in 2022 and 2023.

If Dallas returns to the three man back line, the forecast gets cloudier. Listed at 5-10, Farfan doesn’t have prototypical center back size. That showed at times when he was marking players during defensive set pieces, where bigger forwards took advantage of that. It wasn’t an effort issue, it just felt like Farfan at that position was a square peg in a round hole. A full training camp at the position plus his 2024 experience could close those gaps, but it doesn’t feel ideal as we sit today.

If for some reason Farfan doesn’t fit into the 2025 plan, plenty of MLS teams would be glad to have him. He’s controllable and for a first selection left back his salary is more than reasonable. Farfan will be a productive starter for someone in 2025, and I hope it’s with Dallas.

Jesus Ferreira

FC Dallas’ talismanic Homegrown Designated Player had five goals and three assists in 22 matches and 14 starts. His contract runs through 2025 with an option for 2026, and his Guaranteed Compensation in 2024 was $2,204,000.

Of all the questions to be answered going into 2025, Ferreira is the biggest. There’s no questioning his talent, and he’s going into his age 24 season. There’s all the reason in the world to think that he’ll return to the form that had him scoring 30 goals across 2022 and 2023. There’s also reason to believe there’s risk in his profile going forward.

Injuries have become a concern over the last two seasons, with 2024 being his lowest matches played and started since 2019 (excluding the 2020 Covid season). There’s also the quandary of his position. With Petar Musa and Logan Farrington established as the 1-2 striker punch, Ferreira needs to find a new place. Could it be out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, or as an attacking midfielder in the 3-4-3? He’s got the skills to do both, but the club needs to pick a heading.

There’s also the concern about the way he plays. Ferreira tends to go find the ball where it’s at, whether that’s in a good position or all the way back in the defensive end. That drift pulled him out of position more times than desired which limited his offensive output at times. Ferreira is an elite finisher, but that is negated if you’re far from net.

FC Dallas’ Chief Soccer Officer Andre Zanotta at the year end press conference reaffirmed the club’s commitment to Ferreira. While a large bid came in from Russia’s Spartak Moscow prior to 2024 (MLS quashed the deal), it’s hard to imagine something like that happening again after a down campaign. That means on the off chance Dallas did want to explore a market for Ferreira, it’d have to be inside MLS. While I’m sure plenty of teams would love to have a young scoring DP yet to reach his prime, getting enough value back feels impossible for Dallas.

Which means all roads lead back to answering the Ferreira question in Frisco. It’s a good problem to have ultimately, but it’s one that does need to be solved. Dallas has seen the great player before, and if they want to achieve their goals they’ll need to again. It’ll likely look different than it has before, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as effective.

Bernard Kamungo

The Abilene Dream’s 2024 was closer to a nightmare, with no goals and two assists in 29 matches and 13 starts. Kamungo’s deal runs through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. His Guaranteed Compensation for 2024 was $89,716.

After a breakout 2023 that saw Kamungo net six goals in 16 matches, not much went right in his sophomore campaign. The formation change meant Kamungo never really found a foothold at any position Dallas tried him in. Wing back didn’t suit his talents, neither did the attacking midfielder spot under Musa. The inability to adapt meant other players found spots ahead of him, and the success of last season never emerged.

It’s hard to read the future for Kamungo. You could argue 2023 was an aberration, although that’s not an argument I’m particularly interested in myself. Kamungo in 2024 felt like a man out of place, where the team was going one direction and him another. There’s talent there, and not unlike Ferreira whoever gets the coaching job will need to find a way to reinvigorate the young winger.

Exploring the other side of that coin, there’s a world in which 2023 was the outlier and Kamungo never reaches those heights again. Which would likely mean he plays out 2025 on his contract and is later surpassed by players graduating up from North Texas SC. That doesn’t feel likely, but MLS has seen it happen before.

All in all, the hope is that Bernie can re-find his form for a team that will need to score more next season if they want a playoff return. He has the abilities, it’ll be about utilizing them properly to put him in positions to succeed which was not the case in 2024.

Sebastian Lletget

Another TAM player for Dallas, Lletget had a renaissance under interim coach Peter Luccin with two goals and seven assists in 31 matches and 20 starts. Lletget’s contract runs through 2025 with an option for 2026. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $841,250

It was a tale of two seasons for Lletget. In the waning days of the Estévez administration it was looking as if his star had faded. Then the coaching change happened and under Luccin Lletget was reborn. A dynamic playmaker who could play centrally and in a more advanced position, Da Boy was a crucial player for Dallas down the stretch. Without his efforts, they don’t get as close to the playoffs as they ended up.

Yes, he is north of 30 now and has had a problem with injuries. That said if this level of production is possible across 31 games and 20 starts, he’s worth the money. He keeps himself in great shape, is a positive force in the locker room, and at minimum if you’re not happy post 2025 you can walk away by declining the 2026 option.

Especially if Luccin returns as coach, Lletget looks to be a key piece for next season. You don’t need to forecast more than that, because based on his contract it’s unnecessary. Get through 2025, see where you stand, and play it from there. His 2024 does give hope that there’s plenty of gas left in that tank.

Petar Musa

The second of FC Dallas’ DPs is on contract through 2027 with an option for 2028. His Guaranteed Compensation in 2024 was $2,230,000.

Musa was in short an unabashed success in 2024. 16 goals and three assists made him the leading scorer for Dallas and it wasn’t even close. The Moose came in and did exactly what he was supposed to do: score goals. Yes there was some bumpiness near season’s end when Luccin benched him following an incident in San Jose. Overall though there’s nothing to be unhappy about with Musa. See you next year big fella, bring more of those goals with you.

Maarten Paes

FC Dallas’ number one keeper is on a deal through 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $397,000.

Plenty of people will see 52 goals allowed in 30 starts and construct the “Paes took a step back” narrative. As someone who watched every start he made this year, that’s just not accurate. His efforts kept Dallas from conceding even more goals, and at times he was victimized by the patchwork defense in front of him. Sure, there are goals he conceded that he wants back. Every keeper in every league has those. But the numbers don’t portray what happened in net this year for Paes.

The question now around Paes is his future in MLS. After a third good season on low money other teams have come sniffing around. Serie A side Empoli earned headlines in the summer window, but nothing came of it. His performance has earned him a step up if he wants it, assuming the financials are right.

My hope is that the front office gets in front of this and gets Paes a bigger deal this offseason. He’s 26, in prime form, and a huge key to the club’s recent success. That’s a guy you extend and make a cornerstone of your team if you can. In MLS if you have a great keeper and a great striker you’ve got a chance. With Musa on one end and Paes the other Dallas has that covered. Making sure Paes doesn’t leave is the next step in that process.

Paxton Pomykal

Another of FC Dallas’ TAM players, Paxton played seven minutes this year before a knee injury ended his 2024. His deal runs through 2026 with an option for 2027. His Guaranteed Compensation for 2024 was $1,058,000.

The season’s biggest bummer was the announcement of Paxton’s injury and surgery which took him out for the year. He’s fought through so many injuries, and when healthy he’s one of the league’s most underrated midfielders. He’s an easy guy to root for because of his work rate and style. The team is better when Paxton’s on the field, there’s zero doubt about that.

Not unlike Geovane Jesus, it’s hard to know what to expect for Paxton going forward. You know how good he can be, how important to the squad he is, so you’re going to give him as much latitude as possible. The expectation seems to be that he will return in early 2025. Let’s check in around training camp and see where things are by then.

As far as his impact on roster building, you already knew you needed midfielders. The more depth Dallas can accumulate in that spot the better going forward. Paxton’s injury put an exclamation point on that fact. The long term future of that position is unclear, but you hope this surgery means Paxton can be included.

Enes Sali

Dallas’ other U22 Initiative player came over this past winter but didn’t spend much time with the first team. He debuted during the Leagues Cup but didn’t play in MLS, spending his 2024 with North Texas SC helping them win the MLS Next Pro Western Conference and a berth in the MLS Next Pro Cup. Sali is signed through 2027 with an option for 2028. His Guaranteed Compensation was $345,000 but his cap impact is lessened due to his U22 status.

Sali’s signing this offseason drew some confusion from supporters and media alike. He was 17 at the time, had done some good things in Romania, but seemed a bit far away for a U22 spot. Those concerns were amplified when Sali didn’t make the first team, instead becoming a standout regular with North Texas SC. The reported transfer fee for Sali was around $2 million, which was a big part of the critique

While that criticism is understood, I want to show the other side of that coin. Correct, Sali was not first team ready when he came over. He needed to learn the American style and get acclimated to living halfway across the world before he turned 18. It’s a big ask of any player regardless of expectation or skills.

During his time with NTSC, Sali has found himself a role as the starting left winger. He and left wing back Tyshawn Rose have formed a great duo on that side, their interplay is fun to watch and has a great rhythm. Sali has big speed, some crafty skills, and while there’s growth left there the vision is clear. Dallas has gambled on a fast winger who is going to stretch opposing defenses, take guys on 1v1, and score high single digit goals while opening up space for others.

This isn’t a short term buy but a long term investment. It wouldn’t shock me if Sali spent a majority of 2025 either with NTSC again or on loan to a USL Championship side. Dallas is being patient with his development, and I think that’s prudent. Sure, you’d love to have seen him come in and dominate MLS from jump. That the front office and coaches realized he wouldn’t, and instead gave him a more proportionate development path deserves commendation.

Sure, one day we might look back on this as money poorly spent. Rarely is the story of any player written in a single season. Sali is on a journey, one that Dallas thinks will pay off in the long term. Based on the first chapter of it stateside, I’m content to give them the time and space to see if they’re correct.

Alan Velasco

Dallas’ third Designated Player, a Young DP at that, made a surprising return in 2024 to play in eight matches while making five starts. Velasco scored a pair of goals in his brief return to the squad. He’s signed through 2025 with an option for 2026. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $1,591,667.

Despite Dallas’ playoff absence, Velasco’s return from an ACL tear in the 2023 playoffs provided a bright spot at season’s end. The 22 year old will enter his fourth season with Dallas in 2025 with high expectations as the team retools under a new coach.

Not unlike Ferreira, figuring out the best use case for Velasco is another task for the incoming coach. He’s got talent in spades, has shown why Dallas paid a then record transfer fee for him coming into 2022, and is not even remotely close to his prime. He’s one of the key pieces for this squad, wherever he fits.

With rumors about South American squads wanting to bring him home (heavy emphasis on rumors), Velasco proving himself in Frisco next season would be a huge asset for everyone. A good campaign from him likely means Dallas should see a return to the playoffs, and if the front office wants a return on their investment that could also come with a strong showing. If Ferreira returning to form is number one on the Dallas needs list, Velasco is likely 1A.

There’s little reason to think he won’t. His efforts to return were tremendous, and once he got back he worked his tail off to fit in with the existing group. Velasco is going to be a big part next year, regardless of the specifics.

Supplemental Roster

Nolan Norris

Another Homegrown looking to break through, Norris had four games and two starts for the first team while primarily featuring for NTSC. Norris is signed through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027. His Guaranteed Compensation is $108,358 for 2024.

Norris has some of the issues detailed about Arriola earlier. He’s played center back and midfielder with FC Dallas, and is the starting left back with the USA U20s. His future position is unclear, which is part of the problem. He needs a clear direction in Dallas to fully reach his sky high ceiling.

During his tenure with NTSC Norris has primarily been a midfielder alongside Diego Garcia, and that’s been largely successful. In talking with former NTSC head coach and first team assistant John Gall, he’s of the mind that Norris’ best spot would be on the left side of a double pivot. Based on his second team performances, it’s hard to disagree.

As Dallas currently has a midfield crisis, it could be time to give Norris an opportunity to step up. Just hypothetically speaking: If Illarra comes back, put Norris next to him as a duo. It’s hard to imagine a better person to learn from, and Illarra can cover for just about any mistakes his partner makes. It’d be a great way to begin the transition into the next generation.

Same with a potential Norris/Paxton pairing. Professor Pomykal teaching Norris about industry, smart fouling, and ball recovery in MLS feels pretty ideal for me if he’s healthy. Norris’ success feels like it’ll come not as the top midfielder to start, but as the apprentice to someone else who will help him achieve that next level.

Regardless of the how, it’s time. Dallas’ announced intent to return to a Homegrown and academy fueled program should start with Norris. He’s still growing in every sense of the word, but consistent MLS experience is his next step. Either he proves himself or he doesn’t, but either way you’ll get an answer you don’t currently have.

Tomas Pondeca

Another NTSC standout, Pondeca made his first team debut under Luccin to the tune of three appearances and two starts. He’s signed through 2025 with a pair of options for 2026 and 2027. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation is $71,401.

Pondeca is an interesting player all around. He’s shown out with the second team, has shown flashes with his minimal first team experience, and is probably in purgatory between the two ability wise. That could mean a loan out to bridge the gap, or it could mean they let him sink or swim with the first team. Being 23 doesn’t help things, as normally players at the NTSC level who are graduating up are younger.

Long term, I could see Pondeca being a high end USL Championship player who never quite cracks the MLS level consistency. I’d like to be wrong, considering he’s shown a dynamic quality this season in MLS Next Pro. As a soccer community we’re still trying to figure out what that means and how it translates. In Pondeca’s case I envision him getting every chance to prove himself with the first team. Here’s hoping my assessment is wrong, because him becoming a contributor would be a big win for the organization.

Carl Sainté

The Haitian international bounced between the first and second team, playing both center back and midfielder with both. He’s signed through 2025 with options for 2206 and 2027. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation is $71,401.

Sainté has some similarities to Norris in the organization moving him between positions. With Haiti he plays center back, and down the stretch with North Texas he’s done the same but in an interesting way. Sainté starts in the middle of the three man back line, but in possession steps up and acts as another defensive midfielder. That forces the other two center backs to tighten up into a back two, creating midfield overloads. Sainté also has some impressive passing abilities, and with a big frame poses problems on set pieces.

Not unlike Show, Sainté’s international status creates a roster construction issue. Unlike Show, I’m not scared of that because I believe Sainté has earned the chance to prove himself. With a team trying to find answers on the backline and midfield, having a player who can do both is invaluable. Couple that with his relatively cheap price point and he’s a valuable piece to a shifting squad. The 2025 depth chart should feature Sainté in some way, maybe even a prominent way.

Off-Roster

Tarik Scott

Fully recovered from an ACL tear in 2023, Scott led North Texas in scoring while playing twice for the first team. Scott’s deal runs through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $105,658.

Scott’s journey has been an interesting one. After his 2023 injury suffered during the first team’s Spain training camp, Scott came back with a vengeance playing with North Texas. He looks back on track to the form that earned him a Homegrown deal.

The good and bad news is the striker position for the first team has gone from barren to overloaded. Petar Musa is a Golden Boot threat and Logan Farrington has become a worthy understudy. That slots Scott at best third on the depth chart, fourth if you factor in Jesus Ferreira at that spot. That is the bad news for Scott’s first team future at striker.

That doesn’t mean it’s bad overall though. While Scott’s a scoring threat in the middle, he’s got the ability to play all three positions across the front line. Which should work out for him. Plus with established players ahead of him, no longer does Dallas need to rush his development. They can take their time and let him naturally grow into whatever he will become. Patience or lack thereof is the biggest inhibitor to development. With the attacking depth Dallas possesses, Scott can mature at his own pace.

Alejandro Urzua

Another Homegrown signing, Urzua didn’t debut for the first team in MLS competition in 2024. He played in the Inter Miami friendly in January, but the rest of the time was an NTSC player. He’s signed through next year with three options through 2028. His 2024 Guaranteed Compensation was $71,401.

Urzua’s status is a little bit of a mystery. With only 10 games and five starts, he seemingly lost ground to Norris and Garcia in the midfield. Time will tell what Urzua’s future looks like, but hazy seems an easy way to describe it as we sit today.

In Part 3, we’ll examine what the FC Dallas gameday roster could look like if Dallas doesn’t make any moves outside of the organization.

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