"Newcomer" is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in the year of awarding.
2021: Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)
FINALISTS:
- Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)
- Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Eduardo ‘Chofis’ López (San Jose Earthquakes)
2020: Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew SC)
FINALISTS:
- Robert Berić (Chicago Fire FC)
- Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City)
- Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew SC)
2019: Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
FINALISTS:
- Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
- Héber (New York City FC)
- Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC)
2018: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy)
FINALISTS:
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy)
- Wayne Rooney (D.C. United)
- Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)
2017: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
FINALISTS:
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
- Josef Martínez (Atlanta United)
- Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire)
2016: Nicolás Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)
FINALISTS:
- Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
- Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
2015: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
FINALISTS:
- Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact)
- Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
- Mike Grella (New York Red Bulls)
2014: Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
FINALISTS:
- Stefan Ishizaki (LA Galaxy)
- Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution)
- Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
2013: Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
FINALISTS:
- Jose Gon alves (New England Revolution)
- Nigel Reo-Coker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
2012: Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)
FINALISTS:
- Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC;
- Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)
2011: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)
FINALISTS:
- Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
- Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)
2010: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
FINALISTS:
- Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
- Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)
- Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
2009: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
FINALISTS:
- Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
2008: Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)
FINALISTS:
- Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Claudio Lopez (Kansas City Wizards;
- Andre Rocha (FC Dallas)
2007: Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)
FINALISTS:
- Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
- Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
- Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)
