Joseph Lowery
Where we left off last year
2024 season: 59 points, 3rd in the Eastern Conference, 5th in MLS
Ever since Chris Albright and Pat Noonan arrived ahead of the 2022 season to steer the front office and the first team, FC Cincinnati have been a banner MLS club.
Despite the injuries and inconsistent striker play that plagued them throughout 2024, Cincinnati still managed to follow up their Supporters’ Shield-winning 2023 season with a very good year. They only finished behind Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew in the East.
A first round playoff exit at the hands of New York City FC still stings, though not nearly as much as the Lucho Acosta saga that began immediately following that exit. In a surprise postgame revelation, Cincy’s star No. 10 teased his exit from the club. More than three months of uncertainty followed, featuring a preseason holdout, fines, and beef with Albright. Ultimately, Acosta was traded to FC Dallas in a disappointing end to the Argentine’s time in Cincinnati.
Still, FC Cincinnati don’t tend to stay down for long and have made quick work of retooling the top end of the roster.
What changed in the offseason
Notable arrivals:
- Evander, AM: Arriving in a cash trade from the Portland Timbers in a reported $12 million move, Cincy didn’t waste time replacing Acosta with a new playmaker. Evander enjoyed a career year in 2024, putting up 15 goals and 15 assists on top of elite underlying numbers en route to establishing himself as one of the premier attackers in MLS. He’s a phenomenal, high-quality replacement for Acosta. The Brazilian is less likely to weave through players on the dribble than his predecessor, but offers elite distribution and goal threat from both open play and set pieces. Evander also put together his very own offseason transfer saga. But, hey, at least Cincinnati have a type!
