The MLS offseason was not short on storylines to follow. Before we knew it, #MLSisBack already.
This winter has been replete with transfer sagas – both in and out – FC Cincinnati's whirlwind of roster building and so much more. Here's what you might have missed this offseason.
FC Cincinnati's construction
Cincy's roster construction ethos was ostensibly back-to-front, with a premium on central defenders and central midfielders. With all of their defensive additions, they should be stubborn and difficult to break down in 2019.
Kendall Waston, Mathieu Deplagne, Greg Garza, Alvas Powell and Nick Hagglund all were added on the backline, ahead of Polish international goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton. The base of midfield is stacked with options, as Leonardo Bertone, Fatai Alashe, Allan Cruz and Caleb Stanko will be battling for minutes.
Deadline-day drama
Up until the final day of the European transfer window, Miguel Almiron was still an Atlanta United player despite all of the assumptions that he'd be sold this winter. Newcastle and Atlanta eventually found common ground to agree a record-breaking deal, but he wasn't the only MLS player dominating European headlines on Jan. 31.
D.C. United star Lucho Acosta was a surprise saga, as news broke late that he was on his way to Europe amid a bid from PSG and interest from Manchester City. He took a medical and waited, as we all feverishly refreshed Twitter to get the latest. In the end, PSG and D.C. couldn't agree to a fee, and Acosta is back in MLS for 2019.
LA Galaxy's DP musical chairs
Atlanta almost faced this problem, but reached a deal for Almiron to become roster compliant with three Designated Players.
But the LA Galaxy, after re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to a lucrative new contract, were forced to offload one of their Designated Players by buying out the contract of Giovani Dos Santos at the deadline for roster compliance on March 1. Gio's brother, Jonathan Dos Santos, joins Frenchman Romain Alessandrini as the club's two other Designated Players.
Pity!
Atlanta United acquired reigning South American Player of the Year Pity Martinez, an award previously won by the likes of Neymar, Carlos Tevez, Ronaldinho and Juan Sebastian Veron since the turn of the century.
At 25 years old, the Argentina international is entering his prime and has selected the No. 10 shirt vacated by Almiron.
Minnesota United's defensive fortification
After two years of defensive troubles, Minnesota United were intent on improving their defensive unit.
This offseason they went out and acquired defenders Ike Opara and Romain Metanire; midfielders Jan Gregus and Ozzie Alonso and goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
Whitecaps' globetrotting transactions
You could say the Vancouver Whitecaps had de facto expansion offseason with the amount of transactions they made: 15 players in, 21 players out. It is a full rebuild under new coach Marc Dos Santos, one that spanned the entire globe.
Players from the following countries were signed: Canada, America, Brazil, England, Spain, Guinea, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia.
Departed stars, young and old
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Yamil Asad (Velez) and Yangel Herrera (Huesca) have departed MLS, among some of the younger luminaries who have moved on this offseason.
At the same time, veteran stars David Villa (Vissel Kobe), Sebastian Giovinco (Al-Hilal), Liam Ridgewell (Hull City) and Victor Vazquez (Al-Arabi SC) were some of the bigger names involved in the offseason changeover.
New marquee attractions
Alongside Pity Martinez, Marco Fabian (Philadelphia Union), Alexandru Mitrita (NYCFC) and Nani (Orlando City SC) are all in contention to win MLS Newcomer of the Year award.
Fabian joins a Union side coming off their best-ever point total, while Mitrita ushers in a new era at NYCFC and Nani looks to lead Orlando to the playoffs for the first time in club history.
Familiar faces, new places
Benny Feilhaber (Colorado Rapids), Ozzie Alonso (Minnesota United), Ike Opara (Minnesota United), Kei Kamara (Colorado Rapids) and Kelyn Rowe (Sporting Kansas City) are a few big-name veterans who changed clubs this winter.
New coaches
In 2019 the league will welcome six new coaches: De Boer (Atlanta), Caleb Porter (Columbus Crew SC), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (LA Galaxy), Luchi Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Marc dos Santos (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Matias Almeyda (San Jose).
US center backs signing new deals
It was a good winter for U.S. national team center backs as Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long and Tim Parker all agreed to new lucrative contracts this offseason.
D.C. make moves with eye on top of the East
D.C. look set to capitalize on their magical second half of 2018.
Wayne Rooney and Acosta are back, while the club added a few pieces around them, including young DP Lucas Rodriguez and fullback Leonardo Jara, both of whom played with Acosta at Estudiantes.
