Major League Soccer today unveiled the full 2025 22 Under 22 class highlighting the best young international and domestic players across the league, and New York City FC’s Julián Fernández has earned the No. 16 spot.
Born on January 30, 2004 in Buenos Aires, the left-footed forward joined New York City FC in August 2023 as part of Major League Soccer’s U22 initiative, and has since recorded 7 goals and 6 assists in MLS play. Throughout the 2025 season so far, the Argentine has recorded 3 goals and 4 assists – including a recent the stoppage-time match-winning goal against Columbus at Yankee Stadium. At only 21, Fernández is emerging as a key young talent in New York City FC’s attack and continues to develop as one of the more promising U22 players in Major League Soccer.
Players were voted on by an expert panel of MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass talent, and select media.
To be eligible for voting, players had to remain 21 or younger before Decision Day on October 18, and therefore must have been born after October 19, 2003.
2025 22 Under 22 Class:
Rank | Player | Club | Age | Academy(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Obed Vargas | Seattle Sounders FC | 20 | Seattle Sounders FC |
2 | Alex Freeman | Orlando City SC | 21 | Orlando City SC, Weston FC |
3 | Idan Toklomati | Charlotte FC | 21 | Maccabi Petah Tikva |
4 | Owen Wolff | Austin FC | 20 | Austin FC, Atlanta United, Columbus Crew |
5 | David Martínez | Los Angeles Football Club | 19 | Monagas SC |
6 | Quinn Sullivan | Philadelphia Union | 21 | Philadelphia Union |
7 | Peyton Miller | New England Revolution | 17 | New England Revolution, Oakwood SC |
8 | Nathan Ordaz | Los Angeles Football Club | 21 | Los Angeles Football Club |
9 | Luca Bombino | San Diego FC | 19 | Los Angeles Football Club |
10 | Zavier Gozo | Real Salt Lake | 18 | Real Salt Lake |
11 | Chris Brady | Chicago Fire FC | 21 | Chicago Fire FC |
12 | Noah Allen | Inter Miami CF | 21 | Inter Miami CF, Weston FC |
13 | Olwethu Makhanya | Philadelphia Union | 21 | |
14 | Kevin Kelsy | Portland Timbers | 21 | Mineros de Guayana |
15 | Manu Duah | San Diego FC | 20 | Santa Barbara Soccer Club |
16 | Julián Fernández | New York City FC | 21 | Vélez Sarsfield |
17 | Ilay Feingold | New England Revolution | 21 | Maccabi Haifa |
18 | Frankie Westfield | Philadelphia Union | 19 | Philadelphia Union |
19 | Nicolás Romero | Minnesota United FC | 21 | Atlético Tucumán |
20 | Darren Yapi | Colorado Rapids | 20 | Colorado Rapids |
21 | Brooklyn Raines | Houston Dynamo FC | 20 | Houston Dynamo FC, Barca Residency Academy |
22 | Taha Habroune | Columbus Crew | 19 | Columbus Crew |
