And here you thought nothing would happen before the window closed: Austin FC wrests Robert Taylor from Miami
Meet Austin FC's newest player, who probably still has Lionel Messi's number in his cell phone.
It might have not been the most obvious move, but it's one we've thought about before.
Robert Taylor, an Inter Miami winger who appeared surplus to that team's needs, and a times a bit of a budgetary burden, has come over to Austin FC in a trade on Wednesday evening – on the final day of the MLS 2025 primary transfer window – amounting to as much as $750,000 in general allocation money (GAM) — $450,000 in GAM this year, $250,000 in 2026 GAM, and a conditional $50,000 GAM.
In return, Taylor – a 30-year-old Finnish international with an English father, hence the very English-sounding name – will add MLS-tested veteran mettle to a squad that's not all that it could be offensively at the moment. Playing his MLS career entirely with Miami after years playing in Scandanavia, Taylor has 18 goals and 18 assists in 116 total appearances with the Herons.
Though he's primarily a left winger, he can also play as an attacking mid or as a right winger.
The press release from the club did not include the usual crafted Rodolfo Borrell quote indicating where he thinks Taylor fits into the master plan, but it's not a stretch to think that Taylor could be a left wing in a 4-4-2 that hasn't been functional so far, or could pair with Owen Wolff or Dani Pereira behind Ilie Sánchez or Besard Šabović in an enticing 4-3-3 midfield.
While Taylor could end up being a backup at left wing for Myrto Uzuni, he seems destined to be more than that.
And, as a bonus, since he was Lionel Messi's teammate with the Herons and presumably shook his hand, if you get to shake Taylor's hand, you're only one handshake removed from the GOAT. (You better believe I'm going to shake his hand when I get the chance. Then you could be two handshakes removed from Messi shaking my hand!)
To the charts!
It's been a while since we got to do this.
I see a player who does some things pretty well – putting together passes, handling the ball, and scoring and assisting fairly well. His defensive numbers aren't stellar, but he's arguably not needed for that. He compares well to another player considered a might-be-nice addition to Verde as we've perused MLS rosters in recent offseasons.
And he's not quite operating on a designated player level, as you can see comparing him to Osman Bukari.
As a needed 18th senior player on the squad, he's a good choice. Verde could use some attacking options, and though a pure No. 10 would be welcome, Taylor provides a flexibility nearly on par with Wolff, though more comfortable on the wings and with a decade more maturity.
We'll see how it shakes out, but initially, it could be the best inside-MLS move since Brendan Hines-Ike 15 months ago.
Field tilt is a measure that can tell you something about which team is dominating a soccer match. In Austin's case, like so many offensive metrics in 2025, it's potentially misleading.
Five clean sheets. Five wins, four by a 1-0 margin. That's good for second in the West ... but what does it mean for a Verde squad still thinking it can do better?
It might have not been the most obvious move, but it's one we've thought about before.
Robert Taylor, an Inter Miami winger who appeared surplus to that team's needs, and a times a bit of a budgetary burden, has come over to Austin FC in a trade on Wednesday evening – on the final day of the MLS 2025 primary transfer window – amounting to as much as $750,000 in general allocation money (GAM) — $450,000 in GAM this year, $250,000 in 2026 GAM, and a conditional $50,000 GAM.
In return, Taylor – a 30-year-old Finnish international with an English father, hence the very English-sounding name – will add MLS-tested veteran mettle to a squad that's not all that it could be offensively at the moment. Playing his MLS career entirely with Miami after years playing in Scandanavia, Taylor has 18 goals and 18 assists in 116 total appearances with the Herons.
Though he's primarily a left winger, he can also play as an attacking mid or as a right winger.
The press release from the club did not include the usual crafted Rodolfo Borrell quote indicating where he thinks Taylor fits into the master plan, but it's not a stretch to think that Taylor could be a left wing in a 4-4-2 that hasn't been functional so far, or could pair with Owen Wolff or Dani Pereira behind Ilie Sánchez or Besard Šabović in an enticing 4-3-3 midfield.
While Taylor could end up being a backup at left wing for Myrto Uzuni, he seems destined to be more than that.
And, as a bonus, since he was Lionel Messi's teammate with the Herons and presumably shook his hand, if you get to shake Taylor's hand, you're only one handshake removed from the GOAT. (You better believe I'm going to shake his hand when I get the chance. Then you could be two handshakes removed from Messi shaking my hand!)
To the charts!
It's been a while since we got to do this.
I see a player who does some things pretty well – putting together passes, handling the ball, and scoring and assisting fairly well. His defensive numbers aren't stellar, but he's arguably not needed for that. He compares well to another player considered a might-be-nice addition to Verde as we've perused MLS rosters in recent offseasons.
And he's not quite operating on a designated player level, as you can see comparing him to Osman Bukari.
As a needed 18th senior player on the squad, he's a good choice. Verde could use some attacking options, and though a pure No. 10 would be welcome, Taylor provides a flexibility nearly on par with Wolff, though more comfortable on the wings and with a decade more maturity.
We'll see how it shakes out, but initially, it could be the best inside-MLS move since Brendan Hines-Ike 15 months ago.
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