Austin FC exercises contract buyout on Jader Obrian
2024's co-leader in goals had a much less productive 2025. But rather than move him to a new team, Austin FC had to use a roster mechanism allowing the club to release him.
One concern about the 2026 Austin FC roster has been allayed by the club ... though at a greater cost than sporting director Rodolfo Borrell might have wanted.
On Tuesday, the club announced it used a buyout – one of two for the 2026 season, should MLS officially repeat the buyout rule change in effect last season — on Jáder Obrian, who has been in Colombia for the start of Verde's offseason preparations while Borrell was reportedly aiming to work out a deal with Deportivo Cali in Colombia's Liga Dimayor.
With the buyout cutting him loose from his contractual obligations to Austin, Obrian is now free to sign with Deportivo Cali or any other team who might be interested in his services.
Though, as Emiliano Rigoni showed us when a buyout takes effect, it might take a while to return to soccer. Borrell has claimed, in earlier interviews, that he was angling to find Rigoni a new team prior to needing to exercise a buyout (so as to not trigger an automatic contract extension). Austin FC
From Re-Entry Draft to buyout (Obrian teaches us about MLS player mechanisms)
Obrian arrived in Austin via the Re-Entry Draft in December 2023, with Borrell notably working trades to secure the No. 1 spot in that lightly-used MLS player acquisition mechanism — allowing a player who is "at least 22 years old and have a minimum of one year of MLS service who are out of contract and did not receive a Bona Fide Offer or whose contract options were not exercised by their clubs" to come back into the league, on that player's existing contract.
He was the co-leader in goals in the 2024 season with seven, plus four assists, but only notched a single assist and no goals in 902 minutes of 2025 MLS play — in a season in which he reunited with head coach Nico Estévez, as both were in Dallas during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
With the move, Austin FC's back to 20 senior roster players under contract, bringing them back into compliance with roster rules — which must ultimately happen on Feb. 20, the day before the 2026 season kicks off with a match at Q2 Stadium against Minnesota United FC.
The move also frees up an international spot — which was not needed for Facundo Torres, Verde's recent arrival who was, for a time, the team's 21st senior roster player.
Meanwhile, players will continue to prepare for Wednesday's closed-door match against Louisville City FC and Sunday's match — open to season ticket holders — against New York City FC.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC's possession numbers and xG values haven't been sterling in 2026. But the changes made under Davy Arnaud are perceptible and bearing out in the numbers, per one analyst.
Austin FC announced that it will be playing the 2027 Coachella Valley Invitational — its fourth straight appearance at the tournament. Here's what we learned about that, and by extension, the sprint season.
Resiliency is the word of the day, as Austin FC rallied from a three-goal deficit to draw San Diego FC and stay in the playoff race. Despite an eight-match unbeaten streak, the postseason could hinge on beating MLS' best team.
Austin FC had a lockdown defense in the first half, was a sieve in the 28 minutes following, and somehow mounted a three-goal comeback to stretch its now-club-record unbeaten streak.
One concern about the 2026 Austin FC roster has been allayed by the club ... though at a greater cost than sporting director Rodolfo Borrell might have wanted.
On Tuesday, the club announced it used a buyout – one of two for the 2026 season, should MLS officially repeat the buyout rule change in effect last season — on Jáder Obrian, who has been in Colombia for the start of Verde's offseason preparations while Borrell was reportedly aiming to work out a deal with Deportivo Cali in Colombia's Liga Dimayor.
With the buyout cutting him loose from his contractual obligations to Austin, Obrian is now free to sign with Deportivo Cali or any other team who might be interested in his services.
Though, as Emiliano Rigoni showed us when a buyout takes effect, it might take a while to return to soccer. Borrell has claimed, in earlier interviews, that he was angling to find Rigoni a new team prior to needing to exercise a buyout (so as to not trigger an automatic contract extension). Austin FC
From Re-Entry Draft to buyout (Obrian teaches us about MLS player mechanisms)
Obrian arrived in Austin via the Re-Entry Draft in December 2023, with Borrell notably working trades to secure the No. 1 spot in that lightly-used MLS player acquisition mechanism — allowing a player who is "at least 22 years old and have a minimum of one year of MLS service who are out of contract and did not receive a Bona Fide Offer or whose contract options were not exercised by their clubs" to come back into the league, on that player's existing contract.
He was the co-leader in goals in the 2024 season with seven, plus four assists, but only notched a single assist and no goals in 902 minutes of 2025 MLS play — in a season in which he reunited with head coach Nico Estévez, as both were in Dallas during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
With the move, Austin FC's back to 20 senior roster players under contract, bringing them back into compliance with roster rules — which must ultimately happen on Feb. 20, the day before the 2026 season kicks off with a match at Q2 Stadium against Minnesota United FC.
The move also frees up an international spot — which was not needed for Facundo Torres, Verde's recent arrival who was, for a time, the team's 21st senior roster player.
Meanwhile, players will continue to prepare for Wednesday's closed-door match against Louisville City FC and Sunday's match — open to season ticket holders — against New York City FC.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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