Best U23 Young Strikers in the MLS
25 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Best Young Strikers in the MLS (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Market Overview: MLS Young Strikers 2025-26
Our database tracks 24 MLS Young Strikers in the 2025-26 season, representing 18 clubs with a combined market value of €32.4M. The average market value for MLS Young Strikers is €1.3M, with the average age at 21 years old.
The most valuable young striker in the MLS is Louis Munteanu, worth €4.5M and playing for D.C. United at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Strikers average €3.8M in market value, including Idan Toklomati and Kevin Kelsy.
Age distribution shows the youngest tracked young striker is Julian Hall (18 years, New York Red Bulls, €1.0M), while the oldest is Louis Munteanu (23 years, D.C. United, €4.5M). Research shows Young Strikers typically peak at age 26.
Our 1-year forecast model projects 24 Young Strikers (100%) will increase in market value over the next 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The MLS market for Young Strikers remains actively developing with emerging talent in the 2025-26 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in MLS
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all MLS Young Strikers. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 18 clubs with €32.4M combined value.
Age Distribution: MLS Young Strikers
The MLS ST market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (19 players, 79% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €30.1M, averaging €1.6M per player.
Top Young Strikers by Age Bracket
U21 Years (5 players)
21-23 Years (19 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 3 Young Strikers (13% of players) control €13.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows concentrated value with emerging (<€5m) tier representing 100% of the MLS ST pool.
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: MLS Young Strikers
Among 18 MLS clubs, D.C. United leads with 2 Young Strikers worth €4.8M (averaging €2.4M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 58% of tracked Young Strikers.
D.C. United (2 Young Strikers)
Charlotte FC (1 Young Strikers)
Portland Timbers (2 Young Strikers)
Columbus Crew (1 Young Strikers)
Player Rankings
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Louis Munteanu
D.C. United • 23 years old
€3.9M
€4.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.8M
51.6
Idan Toklomati
Charlotte FC • 21 years old
€3.9M
€4.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.0M
50.3
Kevin Kelsy
Portland Timbers • 21 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.4M
48.9
Jacen Russell-Rowe
Columbus Crew • 23 years old
€3.0M
€3.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.7M
48.4
Matheus Nascimento
Los Angeles Galaxy • 22 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.6M
40.0
Darren Yapi
Colorado Rapids • 21 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.8M
39.4
Nathan Ordaz
Los Angeles FC • 22 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.1M
37.3
Wiktor Bogacz
New York Red Bulls • 21 years old
€1.6M
€1.8M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.0M
35.3
Deandre Kerr
Toronto FC • 23 years old
€1.0M
€1.2M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.3M
31.5
Julian Hall
New York Red Bulls • 18 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.2M
26.2
Kristian Fletcher
FC Cincinnati • 20 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €917K
24.6
Tomás Ángel
San Diego FC • 23 years old
€519K
€600K
+15.6%
Expected: €642K
22.9
Sunusi Ibrahim
CF Montréal • 23 years old
€519K
€600K
+15.6%
Expected: €642K
22.9
Jules-Anthony Vilsaint
Toronto FC • 23 years old
€432K
€500K
+15.6%
Expected: €535K
20.6
Ariath Piol
Real Salt Lake City • 21 years old
€432K
€500K
+15.6%
Expected: €551K
19.4
Jacob Murrell
D.C. United • 22 years old
€303K
€350K
+15.6%
Expected: €370K
15.6
Mamadou Dieng
Minnesota United FC • 22 years old
€216K
€250K
+15.6%
Expected: €265K
11.4
Gage Guerra
Portland Timbers • 23 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €214K
9.2
Markus Anderson
Philadelphia Union • 22 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €212K
8.6
Nelson Pierre
Vancouver Whitecaps FC • 21 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €221K
8.0
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
D.C. United's Louis Munteanu at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 7.50×. That means Louis Munteanu is valued 7.50× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket-representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Charlotte FC's Idan Toklomati, who is 21 years old, with a 7.50× PPVE. Third is Kevin Kelsy of Portland Timbers, who is 21 years old with a 6.67× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 7.50× means the player is worth 650% more than typical players their age-making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louis Munteanu D.C. United | 23 | 21-23 | €4.5M | €600K | 7.50× |
| #2 | Idan Toklomati Charlotte FC | 21 | 21-23 | €4.5M | €600K | 7.50× |
| #3 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | 21 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €600K | 6.67× |
| #4 | Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew | 23 | 21-23 | €3.5M | €600K | 5.83× |
| #5 | Julian Hall New York Red Bulls | 18 | U21 | €1.0M | €200K | 5.00× |
| #6 | Matheus Nascimento Los Angeles Galaxy | 22 | 21-23 | €2.5M | €600K | 4.17× |
| #7 | Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids | 21 | 21-23 | €2.5M | €600K | 4.17× |
| #8 | Kristian Fletcher FC Cincinnati | 20 | U21 | €800K | €200K | 4.00× |
| #9 | Nathan Ordaz Los Angeles FC | 22 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €600K | 3.33× |
| #10 | Wiktor Bogacz New York Red Bulls | 21 | 21-23 | €1.8M | €600K | 3.00× |
| #11 | Deandre Kerr Toronto FC | 23 | 21-23 | €1.2M | €600K | 2.00× |
| #12 | Seymour Reid New York City FC | 18 | U21 | €200K | €200K | 1.00× |
| #13 | Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal | 23 | 21-23 | €600K | €600K | 1.00× |
| #14 | Tomás Ángel San Diego FC | 23 | 21-23 | €600K | €600K | 1.00× |
| #15 | Ariath Piol Real Salt Lake City | 21 | 21-23 | €500K | €600K | 0.83× |
| #16 | Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | 23 | 21-23 | €500K | €600K | 0.83× |
| #17 | Caden Glover St. Louis CITY SC | 19 | U21 | €150K | €200K | 0.75× |
| #18 | Owen Graham-Roache CF Montréal | 18 | U21 | €150K | €200K | 0.75× |
| #19 | Jacob Murrell D.C. United | 22 | 21-23 | €350K | €600K | 0.58× |
| #20 | Mamadou Dieng Minnesota United FC | 22 | 21-23 | €250K | €600K | 0.42× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
New York City FC's Seymour Reid at 18 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +44%. That means Seymour Reid is projected to appreciate 44% as they reach their peak age in 8 years-representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is New York Red Bulls's Julian Hall, who is 18 years old, with a +44% RPP (8 years to peak). Third is Owen Graham-Roache of CF Montréal, who is 18 years old with a +44% RPP (8 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 44% RPP means the player is expected to gain 44% value as they enter their prime-making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Seymour Reid New York City FC | 18 | 8 | €200K | €357K | +44% |
| #2 | Julian Hall New York Red Bulls | 18 | 8 | €1.0M | €1.8M | +44% |
| #3 | Owen Graham-Roache CF Montréal | 18 | 8 | €150K | €268K | +44% |
| #4 | Caden Glover St. Louis CITY SC | 19 | 7 | €150K | €249K | +40% |
| #5 | Kristian Fletcher FC Cincinnati | 20 | 6 | €800K | €1.2M | +35% |
| #6 | Ariath Piol Real Salt Lake City | 21 | 5 | €500K | €719K | +30% |
| #7 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | 21 | 5 | €4.0M | €5.7M | +30% |
| #8 | Idan Toklomati Charlotte FC | 21 | 5 | €4.5M | €6.5M | +30% |
| #9 | Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids | 21 | 5 | €2.5M | €3.6M | +30% |
| #10 | Wiktor Bogacz New York Red Bulls | 21 | 5 | €1.8M | €2.6M | +30% |
| #11 | Marcos Zambrano Real Salt Lake City | 21 | 5 | €150K | €216K | +30% |
| #12 | Nelson Pierre Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 21 | 5 | €200K | €287K | +30% |
| #13 | Jacob Murrell D.C. United | 22 | 4 | €350K | €468K | +25% |
| #14 | Matheus Nascimento Los Angeles Galaxy | 22 | 4 | €2.5M | €3.3M | +25% |
| #15 | Mamadou Dieng Minnesota United FC | 22 | 4 | €250K | €334K | +25% |
| #16 | Nathan Ordaz Los Angeles FC | 22 | 4 | €2.0M | €2.7M | +25% |
| #17 | Markus Anderson Philadelphia Union | 22 | 4 | €200K | €267K | +25% |
| #18 | Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal | 23 | 3 | €600K | €746K | +20% |
| #19 | Deandre Kerr Toronto FC | 23 | 3 | €1.2M | €1.5M | +20% |
| #20 | Tomás Ángel San Diego FC | 23 | 3 | €600K | €746K | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
New York Red Bulls's Julian Hall has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 68.9. That means Julian Hall has 23% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty-representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is CF Montréal's Owen Graham-Roache with a 68.9 RAU (23% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Seymour Reid of New York City FC with a 68.9 RAU (23% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 68.9 means the upside is 68.9× greater than the uncertainty-making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Julian Hall New York Red Bulls | €1.2M | €1.1M-1.4M | +23% | 68.9 |
| #2 | Owen Graham-Roache CF Montréal | €185K | €160K-211K | +23% | 68.9 |
| #3 | Seymour Reid New York City FC | €247K | €213K-281K | +23% | 68.9 |
| #4 | Caden Glover St. Louis CITY SC | €179K | €154K-203K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #5 | Kristian Fletcher FC Cincinnati | €917K | €791K-1.0M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #6 | Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids | €2.8M | €2.4M-3.1M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #7 | Marcos Zambrano Real Salt Lake City | €165K | €143K-188K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #8 | Idan Toklomati Charlotte FC | €5.0M | €4.3M-5.6M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #9 | Ariath Piol Real Salt Lake City | €551K | €475K-627K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #10 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | €4.4M | €3.8M-5.0M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #11 | Nelson Pierre Vancouver Whitecaps FC | €221K | €190K-251K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #12 | Wiktor Bogacz New York Red Bulls | €2.0M | €1.7M-2.3M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #13 | Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | €535K | €471K-600K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #14 | Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal | €642K | €565K-719K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #15 | Deandre Kerr Toronto FC | €1.3M | €1.1M-1.4M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #16 | Tomás Ángel San Diego FC | €642K | €565K-719K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #17 | Louis Munteanu D.C. United | €4.8M | €4.2M-5.4M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #18 | Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew | €3.7M | €3.3M-4.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #19 | Gage Guerra Portland Timbers | €214K | €188K-240K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #20 | Jacob Murrell D.C. United | €370K | €326K-415K | +6% | 23.0 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: young striker position shows strong depth (avg Z-score: 0.00). RPI: 0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
St. Louis CITY SC's Caden Glover in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-13.7%. That means Julian Hall captures 7.1% of total market value while representing only 20.8% of players in their age group-showing dominant elite status.
In second is New York Red Bulls's Julian Hall with a +-13.7% ASC (7.1% value share vs 20.8% player share in U21 bracket). Third is Seymour Reid of New York City FC with a +-13.7% ASC (7.1% value vs 20.8% players in U21 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-13.7% ASC means the player captures -13.7% more market value than their numerical representation-indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Caden Glover St. Louis CITY SC | U21 | 7.1% | 20.8% | -13.7% |
| #2 | Julian Hall New York Red Bulls | U21 | 7.1% | 20.8% | -13.7% |
| #3 | Seymour Reid New York City FC | U21 | 7.1% | 20.8% | -13.7% |
| #4 | Owen Graham-Roache CF Montréal | U21 | 7.1% | 20.8% | -13.7% |
| #5 | Kristian Fletcher FC Cincinnati | U21 | 7.1% | 20.8% | -13.7% |
| #6 | Ariath Piol Real Salt Lake City | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #7 | Markus Anderson Philadelphia Union | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #8 | Jacob Murrell D.C. United | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #9 | Mamadou Dieng Minnesota United FC | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #10 | Gage Guerra Portland Timbers | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #11 | Louis Munteanu D.C. United | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #12 | Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #13 | Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #14 | Deandre Kerr Toronto FC | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #15 | Matheus Nascimento Los Angeles Galaxy | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #16 | Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #17 | Tomás Ángel San Diego FC | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #18 | Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #19 | Wiktor Bogacz New York Red Bulls | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
| #20 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | 21-23 | 92.9% | 79.2% | +13.7% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use:"Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets."Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months."Peak" = pay premium for proven performers."Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 4 immediate targets, 20 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 0 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
No players in this category
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €150K. 0 undervalued, 3 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcos Zambrano Real Salt Lake City | €150K | €600K | -0.20 | Fair Value |
Markus Anderson Philadelphia Union | €200K | €600K | -0.18 | Fair Value |
Gage Guerra Portland Timbers | €200K | €600K | -0.18 | Fair Value |
Nelson Pierre Vancouver Whitecaps FC | €200K | €600K | -0.18 | Fair Value |
Mamadou Dieng Minnesota United FC | €250K | €600K | -0.16 | Fair Value |
Jacob Murrell D.C. United | €350K | €600K | -0.11 | Fair Value |
Caden Glover St. Louis CITY SC | €150K | €600K | -0.08 | Fair Value |
Owen Graham-Roache CF Montréal | €150K | €600K | -0.08 | Fair Value |
Ariath Piol Real Salt Lake City | €500K | €600K | -0.04 | Fair Value |
Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | €500K | €600K | -0.04 | Fair Value |
Seymour Reid New York City FC | €200K | €600K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal | €600K | €600K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Tomás Ángel San Diego FC | €600K | €600K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Deandre Kerr Toronto FC | €1.2M | €600K | +0.27 | Fair Value |
Wiktor Bogacz New York Red Bulls | €1.8M | €600K | +0.53 | Above Market |
Nathan Ordaz Los Angeles FC | €2.0M | €600K | +0.62 | Above Market |
Matheus Nascimento Los Angeles Galaxy | €2.5M | €600K | +0.84 | Above Market |
Darren Yapi Colorado Rapids | €2.5M | €600K | +0.84 | Above Market |
Kristian Fletcher FC Cincinnati | €800K | €600K | +0.92 | Above Market |
Julian Hall New York Red Bulls | €1.0M | €600K | +1.23 | Above Market |