Orlando City SC Defender Alex Freeman Named 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year

21-year-old is the second player in club history to earn the honor after a breakout 2025 season

NEW YORK (Thursday, October 30, 2025) – Major League Soccer today announced Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman as the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year. The 21-year-old is the first Orlando City player to win the award in its current iteration and the second in club history to earn the honor overall, joining Cyle Larin, who was named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2015.

• Download assets of MLS Young Player of the Year winner Alex Freeman here.

In his first MLS season as a full-time player, Freeman produced a career-best nine goal contributions (six goals, three assists) in regular-season play, netting his first MLS goal on March 1 vs. Toronto FC. Among all defenders in 2025, the attacking fullback’s six regular-season goals were tied for second in MLS, while his 42 key passes were the fourth-most. In regular season games Freeman scored or assisted in, Orlando produced a 4-2-2 record. Freeman was also an elite defender, as he led Orlando City in aerial duels (110) and finished fourth in clearances (19).

Freeman’s 2025 MLS regular season was highlighted by marquee moments in his development into one of Orlando’s most integral players, which led to his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up in June and his first appearance as a starter against Turkey on June 7. Freeman was named to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup roster for the United States and started all six matches en route to the final.

Freeman earned his first MLS All-Star Team selection earlier this season, as he was the youngest member of the side that defeated the LIGA MX All-Stars in Austin. A product of Orlando City SC’s academy, Freeman has risen through the MLS Player Pathway, starring in MLS NEXT, MLS NEXT Pro and now MLS. At 2021 MLS NEXT Cup, Freeman led the U17 Orlando City SC team to its first championship. In MLS NEXT Pro, he saw action in 50 regular season matches for Orlando City B across 2023-24, scoring 12 times and adding 11 assists.

Freeman is the fourth different American to be named MLS Young Player of the Year in its current iteration. He is the second recipient of the award to have played in both MLS NEXT Pro and in MLS NEXT, joining Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna (2024).

The Young Player of the Year award honors the top player in the league aged 22 and under. Players born on, or after, Jan. 1, 2003, were eligible for selection. The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results, with Freeman besting fellow finalists Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC) and 2024 MLS Young Player of the Year Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake).

A full list of previous MLS Young Player of the Year and MLS Rookie of the Year award winners can be found below:

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