The 2025 Major League Soccer season begins today, and DC United is hoping that in the 30th season for the team and league, they can return to glory by making the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The team will have 34 matches during the MLS regular season, with an eye on making the playoffs and progressing to MLS Cup in early December. The team will also compete in the 2025 US Open Cup, entering in the Round of 32 in early May with the hopes of winning the club’s fourth US Open Cup trophy.
For long time diehard fans of the team, the first few matches may require taking a look at the match guide. The team saw 14 players exit the club between their last match of the 2024 season and today, while 13 players are new on this year’s roster (note: this doesn’t count the rumored signing of Fidel Barajas on loan from Chivas, as that move has not been made official).
So, which players comprise the 2025 DC United roster? Let’s take a look!
Goalkeepers: 13-Luis Barraza, 24-Jordan Farr, 1-Kim Jun-Hong
Defenders: 12-Connor Antley, 3-Lucas Bartlett, 18-Derek Dodson, 22-Aaron Herrera, 5-Lukas MacNaughton, 4-Matti Peltola, 15-Kye Rowles, 28-David Schnegg, 16-Garrison Tubbs
Midfielders: 6-Boris Enow, 25-Jackson Hopkins, 77-Hosei Kijima, 11-Randall Leal, 10-Gabriel Pirani, 23-Brandon Servania, 8-Jared Stroud, 48-Gavin Turner, 44-Rida Zouhir
Forwards: 14-Dominique Badji, 20-Christian Benteke, 19-Hakim Karamoko, 17-Jacob Murrell, 7-João Peglow
On Loan: Kristian Fletcher (to Nottingham Forest until 6/30/25)
Christian Benteke will serve as the captain this season. He received the armband after Steven Birnbaum retired last July, but this season the armband is his. The vice captain is newcomer Kye Rowles, who earns that spot after just a month with the club.
Troy Lesesne enters his second season as head coach of DC United. His staff includes assistant coaches Alex Martínez and Zach Prince as well as goalkeeping coach Cody Mizell. Together, they hope to lead this team back to the playoffs with a chance to compete for a trophy.
MLS is Back! Let this be your guide for the team as we all take in all the action all season long.
Donald, any speculation on who will be starting this game? I’m thinking: Kim, Schnegg, Bartlett, Rowles, Herrera, Peltola, Enow, Kijima, Leal, Pirani, and Benteke.
I also find it interesting that we’ve heard nothing this preseason about Murrell. I would hope he’d take a couple of steps up this season because being a good (or better) striker as a pro is about being a step quicker, better recognition, movement off the ball, anticipation–all things that rookies are generally bad at. And last year he was always a step late or a shot just a little too wide or a header that was just a bit off. The effort was there. But he looked like a rookie playing with vets and I hope this year is different.
Honestly, no speculation other than Benteke, Kim, Rowles, Herrera, Peltola, and Kijima being in the lineup. The one you have sounds pretty close, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Servania in the middle to start against his old team.
To your point about Murrell, he’s a strange player to me. Didn’t show very good finishing abilities, but does interesting flicks and shows a bit of creativity with his touch. Dribbling? Not so much, so I don’t know what role he actually suits, possibly none fully.
Well… we just saw what Murrell does reallllll well. Love it!
As that’s literally the first time in his pro career he’s done that, I feel I have some cover 😅
What a cross
[…] Even the most dedicated Black-and-Red fans may have to double-check the roster these first few weeks as they get acclimated to the new signings. Not to worry, Donald has got you covered with this handy guide. […]