Austin FC brought some clarity to its 2025 roster with last week’s contract extensions for Jáder Obrian, Owen Wolff, Brendan Hines-Ike, and Diego Rubio. No players have been added since then, but we’re a bit closer to knowing who’s committed to play for newly-feted coach Nico Estévez in 2025 … and perhaps more importantly, keeping improvement in mind, how many open senior roster spots remain.
Currently, according to the Austin FC roster page that comms director Cam Koubek lovingly maintains, 15 players hold senior roster spots and contracts keeping them here next season. Those are (with contract details):
- Guilherme Biro (through 2026, option for 2027)
- Osman Bukari (through 2027, option for 2028)
- Julio Cascante (through 2025, option for 2026)
- Stefan Cleveland (through 2025, option for 2026)
- Mikkel Desler (through 2027, option for 2028)
- Sebastián Driussi (through 2025, option for 2026)
- Jon Gallagher (through 2026, option for 2027)
- Brendan Hines-Ike (through 2025, option for 2026)
- Žan Kolmanič (through 2025, option for 2026; please note he’s no longer a U22 Initiative player)
- Jáder Obrian (through 2026, option for 2027)
- Diego Rubio (through 2025, option for 2026)
- Brad Stuver (through 2025, option for 2026; who would like to see this extended?)
- Oleksandr Svatok (through 2027, option for 2028)
- Leo Väisänen (through 2026, option for 2027)
- Gyasi Zardes (through 2025, option for 2026)
What we don’t know yet is whether Wolff will still be on the supplemental roster or on the senior roster. If Wolff does have to occupy a senior spot, that leaves four open spots.
Why do we wonder? From the MLS Compendium of Labrynthine Rules: “Homegrown Player(s) in Supplemental Roster slots 21-30 may earn in aggregate each year up to $125,000 above the Reserve Minimum Salary (if occupying slots 25-30) or Senior Minimum Salary (if occupying slots 21-24).”
The Reserve Minimum Salary in 2024 is $71,401. Assuming it stays the same, Wolff could still be a supplemental player if he’s making $196,401 or less.
