MLS History

MLS Newcomer of the Year winners

"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)