The 2025 USL League Two season is set to kick off this weekend with 144 teams set to take the field in pursuit of the league title in early August as the league celebrates its 30th anniversary season.

A foundational part of player development across the United States – which continues to see alumni such as current Charlotte FC forward Patrick Agyemang (Western Mass Pioneers) and Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte (St. Louis Scott Gallagher) make their way into the United States Men’s National Team – League Two continues to provide a platform for players to develop their game in the pursuit of the professional ranks.

As the new season approaches, here are 30 players that should have your attention throughout the summer. From returning standouts that lit up the 2024 campaign to new faces with established collegiate credentials, and even some notable young talents making their way out of USL Academy programs, we’re looking forward to seeing how each player fares over the coming weeks.

Nacho Abeal – Forward, Corpus Christi FC

The Spanish standout heads back to Corpus Christi FC this summer after being voted the Lone Star Division’s Player of the Year in 2024 after a campaign in which he notched 17 goals to lead the side to a division title. Abeal followed that up with a college campaign with five goals and one assist for SIU Edwardsville last fall, but the native of A Coruña is set to head to the University of North Carolina this fall for his final collegiate season and will be aiming to raise his professional profile in Texas over the summer.

Ryan Belal – Forward, Annapolis Blues

A Baltimore native, Belal made the most of his opportunities in his freshman season at Wake Forest University, scoring four goals in 403 minutes for the Demon Deacons while helping the side claim the Atlantic Coast Conference title. The 19-year-old will be aiming to bridge his development to his sophomore season with the Blues as they arrive in League Two aiming to make a significant impact.

Dominic Bell – Defender, Brooke House FC

The former United States U-17 National Team call-up heads back to his native Florida with Brooke House FC this summer looking to build up experience after moving into the starting lineup at Syracuse University at the end of his freshman season. A former Orlando City Academy product, the 6-foot-5 center back logged 479 minutes for the Orange as a freshman while helping the side earn notable wins against Notre Dame and Providence College. A good summer should set him in good stead to return to upstate New York ready to push on collegiately.

Austin Brummett – Forward, Ballard FC

The New York Red Bulls Academy product has been consistently productive in the college ranks with San Diego State University, logging 14 goals and 10 assists across his three seasons with the Aztecs. His performance last fall saw him earn United Soccer Coaches Far West All-Region Second Team and All-Western Athletic Conference Second Team honors, but his versatility could be key for Ballard this summer as a player who can fit into multiple positions in the front line.

Mitchell Budler – Goalkeeper, Lionsbridge FC

After making a run to the Eastern Conference Final in the League Two Playoffs a season ago, Lionsbridge FC is set to have one of the top goalkeepers in the country in its ranks this season with Budler coming off a season in which he was voted to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team for his performance at the University of Akron last fall. The 6-foot-4 shot-stopper recorded 51 saves at a save percentage of 72.9 percent while logging a 0.93 goals-against average and should help Lionsbridge in its pursuit of another division title.

Ryan Calheira – Forward, Christos FC

For those who’ve been following the USL Championship this season, the emergence of Taylor Calheira at FC Tulsa has been a notable storyline. Younger brother Ryan could have a chance to follow the same path as he heads to Christos FC this summer looking to build on a solid sophomore season at the University of Maryland Baltimore County that saw him record five goals in 1,030 minutes for the Terriers. The 6-foot-1 striker and Maryland native will be aiming for this summer to be one that can carry him into the fall with positive experience and momentum.

Sebastian Conlon – Goalkeeper, Mississippi Brilla

Conlon heads to Brilla this summer coming off a career-best season for James Madison University that saw him record a 0.85 goals-against average and a save percentage of 79.5 percent on 62 saves for the Dukes. The Virginia native earned Sun Belt Goalkeeper of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors for his efforts and is now set to compete for the University of Kentucky in his senior season. Conlon will build toward that campaign with Brilla, where he will try to help the club compete for a postseason return.

Frankie De Francesco – Midfielder, Cedar Stars Rush

After starring in his freshman season at High Point University, De Francesco is set to return to the northeast this summer with Cedar Stars Rush as the side looks to return to the League Two Playoffs for the first time since 2021. De Francesco recorded four goals and three assists in 932 minutes for the Panthers last fall to earn Big South Freshman of the Year and Big South Second Team All-Conference honors while coming in at No. 47 in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s freshman rankings. The Wayne, N.J. native will be hoping to have a similar impact for Cedar Stars this summer.

Mamadou Diarra – Forward, Fort Wayne FC

A native of Mali, Diarra is set to link up with Fort Wayne FC this summer having made a big splash for Florida Atlantic University last fall. In his first season with the Owls, the center forward earned the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year award after recording eight goals and eight assists in 1,115 minutes for the side, becoming the first FAU player to win a conference player of the year award since 2004. Having previously starred at the NAIA level, Diarra could be auditioning for a place in the professional ranks with the future USL League One club this summer.

Cooper Flax – Midfielder, Salem City SC

The defending South Atlantic Division title-holders added one of the top midfielders in the country in Cooper Flax for the new campaign. Last summer, Flax was voted the Metropolitan Division’s Player of the Year and to the League Two Team of the Year, and he went on to earn United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team and All-South Region First Team in the fall after a standout campaign at Wake Forest University. Flax recorded nine goals in 24 appearances for the Demon Deacons last fall to help the side claim the ACC title, and will be aiming for another strong summer as he heads to Salem City. 

Enzo Gindro – Defender, West Virginia United

A native of France, Gindro heads to West Virginia United this summer after an impressive freshman season at Oral Roberts University in which he started all 16 games for the side and was selected as the No. 94 player in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s top 100 Freshman. The 5-foot-8 defender recorded one goal for the Golden Eagles last fall and this summer could be an opportunity for Gindro to show off his versatility with the potential to play at center back and full back for United.

Taig Healy – Midfielder, Seacoast United Phantoms

A year after earning League Two Final MVP honors, Healy returns to the Phantoms to lead their title defense after a stellar junior season at North Carolina State University that saw him voted to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-South Second Team. Healy recorded six goals and six assists in 20 appearances for the Wolfpack after his transfer from the University of New Hampshire, and after claiming League Two Team of the Year honors a season ago he’ll be aiming for another strong campaign.

Nicklas Herceg – Goalkeeper, Vermont Green FC

A native of Germany, Herceg had experience with VfL Vichttal in the lower tiers before making the move to the University of Vermont last fall, where he had an immediate impact for the Catamounts. The 6-foot-6 goalkeeper posted a 0.67 goals-against average and six shutouts in 16 appearances for the side as it claimed its first NCAA College Cup in dramatic fashion last December. Herceg will now bring those attributes to Vermont Green as it once again features a solid group of Catamounts in its squad for this summer, aiming to make a run at the Northeast Division crown.

Kenan Hot – Midfielder, FC Motown STA

The New Jersey native logged minutes for both the New York Red Bulls II and Hartford Athletic as a USL Academy signing before enrolling at Duke University – logging one goal and one assist in 631 minutes in the USL Championship – and since then he’s become a key piece for the Blue Devils. Last fall he was voted to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team after logging 1,569 minutes while ranking No. 60 in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s upperclassman rankings, and he’ll be aiming to raise his professional stock further competing for FC Motown this summer ahead of his senior season.

Noah James – Forward, Capo FC

The California native is set to return for a second season at Capo FC, and this time serve as captain, after a standout sophomore campaign at Western Michigan University that saw him record seven goals and four assists in 1,657 minutes. The 6-foot-3 prospect is already on the radar of clubs in the professional ranks – last summer he had a training stint with the LA Galaxy while competing for Capo – and will be aiming to have a productive summer ahead of his return to the Mustangs in the fall.

Nick Kishchenko – Defender, Staten Island Athletic SC

A Staten Island native, Kishchenko joins Athletic after a breakthrough season at the University of North Florida last fall in which he recorded two assists in 19 appearances and logged 1,625 minutes to help the Ospreys claim the Atlantic Sun championship. A 6-foot-4 center back, Kishchenko was voted to the All-Atlantic Sun Second Team as he played a key leadership role and in distribution out of the back line for his new side. Those are the characteristics Athletic is aiming to develop further as it competes in the Metropolitan Division.

Alexis Ledoux – Forward, FC Tucson

The French striker heads to Tucson this summer having previously competed in League Two for South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, sitting firmly on the radar of clubs in the professional ranks. Ledoux was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year and to the All-Big West First Team after recording 14 goals and five assists in 1,645 of action during last fall, numbers that also earned him a place on the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team. Having attended the MLS College Showcase last December, Ledoux will be aiming to put together a strong summer that can help pave his way into the pro ranks in the future.

Quinn Mahoney – Midfielder, San Juan SC

After taking a redshirt year after his arrival at Cal Poly University, Mahoney made an impact last fall for the side in his freshman season with four goals and six assists in 1,125 minutes of action. The Sacramento native was voted the Big West Freshman of the Year for his efforts while also taking the No. 40 slot on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s ranking of freshmen across the country as the Mustangs claimed the conference’s regular season title. He’ll now look to build on that this summer with San Juan SC before returning for his sophomore season.

Edwin Moreno – Midfielder, Monterey Bay FC II

The 17-year-old local product, Moreno is set for his second season with MBFC II this summer as he continues his development within the club’s system. Moreno is viewed as one of the brightest products to come out of the area in recent years – during the past high school season he helped lead Alvarez High to a NorCal State Division I title – and this preseason he joined the club’s USL Championship squad for training. This summer could be a notable one as Moreno looks to make another jump forward in his pursuit of joining the professional ranks.

Isaac Nehme – Goalkeeper, Colorado Storm

A Colorado Springs native, Nehme has stayed close to home throughout his academy and college career, coming through the Colorado Rapids Academy before becoming a standout at Denver University collegiately. Nehme has been voted the Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year in consecutive seasons and in 2024 earned United Soccer Coaches’ All-West Region Second Team honors after ranking second in the nation with 2,058 minutes of play and posting a 0.79 goals-against average. He joins the Storm with the ability to be a key player in the club’s inaugural League Two season.

Luke Persenico – Forward, Peoria City FC

Persenico returns to Peoria City after a season ago having been a key part of the side that claimed the Central Conference title and advanced to the League Two Final before falling the Seacoast United Phantoms. The Illinois native was voted the Heartland Division Player of the Year and to the League Two Team of the Year for his performances, and then went on to have a career year at Clark College as he posted 19 goals and six assists in 17 appearances during the fall campaign. The NAIA standout will be aiming for another big campaign with the hope it can propel Peoria City to its first League Two title.

Bautista Rossi – Forward, Lane United FC

The Argentine forward burst onto the college scene last fall at Iona University, earning All-Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Third Team honors for the Gaels after recording eight goals and two assists as a freshman. Rossi’s campaign included a run of five consecutive games with a goal, and he also notched the game-winning goal in the MAAC Championship Game against Rider. Rossi will head to Lane United this summer ahead of his transfer to Creighton University in the fall and will be hoping to bring a similar attacking punch to the Oregon-based club’s front line.

Jack Ryan – Midfielder, AC Connecticut

Having previously starred for AC Connecticut at the USL Academy level, Ryan is set to step up into USL League Two for the first time this summer as he prepares for his freshman season at the University of Connecticut in the fall. The 18-year-old was named the Young Player of the Tournament at the 2023 USL Academy Finals, and was voted to the USL Academy Finals All-Tournament First Team last December as he helped the side reach the Final. As a creative midfielder, this should be a productive next step for the Brookfield, Conn. product.

Joshua Saavedra – Midfielder, Des Moines Menace

season, when he earned the Northeast Conference’s Rookie of the Year award and being voted to the All-Conference First Team as well as TopDrawerSoccer’s Freshman Best XI. The 21-year-old – who logged 687 minutes in USL League One for Inter Miami CF II prior to heading to college – has recorded eight goals and eight assists in 38 appearances for the Sharks through two seasons, and will now head to one of the most storied clubs in League Two aiming to make an impact this summer.

Isaac Scheer – Midfielder, Charlotte Independence U23

A product of the Independence’s Academy system, Scheer is set to return to Charlotte this summer after a sterling freshman campaign at the University of West Virginia. The 19-year-old recorded three goals and five assists for the Mountaineers in 1,255 minutes of action last fall, having previously made three USL League One appearances for the Independence as a USL Academy signing. A creative player who previously earned USL Academy Finals All-Tournament First Team honors in 2023 when he helped the Independence claim the title, Scheer will be aiming to have a positive impact on the U23’s fortunes. 

Christian Shannon – Defender, Midwest United

Shannon is set to return to Midwest United for a second consecutive year after being a key part of the back line that allowed only 13 goals in 14 games during the regular season as the side advanced to the postseason from the Great Lakes Division. Since then, Shannon put together a stellar redshirt freshman season at Western Michigan University in which he recorded 20 starts in 21 appearances and logged three goals and three assists to earn All-Missouri Valley Conference Freshman Team honors and be ranked as the No. 16 freshman in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com. He’ll be aiming to build on that success this summer ahead of his return to the Mustangs in the fall.

Sergi Solans – Forward, Asheville City SC

A native of Lleida, Spain, Solans heads to Ashville City this summer after a standout campaign at Oregon State University last fall that saw him earn the West Coast Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. Solans recorded 14 goals and three assists in 1,187 minutes for the Beavers, including a pair of hat tricks, and will now look to make a similar impact as former Asheville City standouts like Sebastian Tregarthen, now part of Birmingham Legion FC in the USL Championship after taking South Central Division Player of the Year honors last summer.

Jack Stainrod – Forward, Long Island Rough Riders

A Sheffield United Academy product, Stainrod joins the Rough Riders this summer having starred for SC United Bantams during the 2024 League Two campaign, when he claimed the South Atlantic Division’s Player of the Year award. The center forward is coming off a standout junior season at Dalton State University that helped the side claim the NAIA National Championship as he recorded 12 goals and two assists in 1,520 minutes. Stainrod was voted to the NAIA All-America Third Team for his performance and will look to have another strong summer, this time on Long Island, before he returns for his senior season.

Trace Terry – Forward, Toledo Villa FC

Coming off a season in which he was voted to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, Terry is already on professional radars as he returns to Toledo Villa this summer. The 6-foot-2 forward was selected in the Third Round of the 2025 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC before electing to return to Bowling Green University for his senior season this fall. After recording 12 goals and five assists in 1,498 appearances for the Falcons last fall, Terry will be aiming for a strong summer after bagging five goals for Villa last summer.

Will Wiersdorf – Midfielder, Almaden FC

The Santa Clara University standout is set for a second season with Almaden FC having last year claimed League Two Team of the Year honors for the side. Since then, the central midfielder has picked up All-West Coast Conference Second Team honors while competing for the Broncos while serving as a co-captain for the program as a sophomore. Wiersdorf notched three goals and two assists in 965 minutes for Santa Clara a season ago and will look to pull the strings again for Almaden this summer.