ROSTER BUILD

Nashville SC has adopted more of a slow build approach than previous expansion sides like Atlanta United or LAFC, heavily targeting players with domestic experience and sprinkling in a few international signings.

Defense has been a focal point of this roster build, as Mike Jacobs told Speedway Soccer in August:

“Most expansion teams in every sport are like sieves as far as giving goals away. For us, to start an expansion team in MLS, contrary to these successful teams like LAFC or Atlanta, the reality is that most expansion teams fail miserably their first year. We have a manager who's very stingy defensively - his teams just don't concede goals. We want players who are ok with being uncomfortable, who can deal with being under pressure. The likes of playing somewhere like Atlanta in front of 70,000 fans... We want them to be comfortable being uncomfortable, but also able to make other teams uncomfortable, in a high-pressing team on both sides of the ball. “

The club’s first big signing came in August, announcing the transfer of German attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar from Danish side Brondby IF on a reported $2.9M transfer fee. Winger Randall Leal was another big investment from the club, arriving from Saprissa on a TAM contract. Within MLS, Nashville parted with big chunks of allocation money to bring in David Accam from Columbus and Aníbal Godoy from San Jose. While the Godoy move was met with surprise by many around the league, Nashville’s acquisition of Dax McCarty from Chicago Fire for $100k in allocation and a draft pick was praised as shrewd business. Dave Romney was brought in from LA Galaxy and promised a more prominent role on the expansion side, after playing inconsistently for a poor Galaxy defense. Nashville used the expansion draft to bolster their squad, adding forward Abu Danladi, goalkeepers Joe Willis and Adrian Zendejas, and defenders Jalil Anibaba and Jimmy Medranda. They brought in US International Dan Lovitz from Montreal of $100k in allocation money and an international spot and added Eric Miller in the re-entry draft.

Mike Jacobs and co. bet on four players from Nashville’s USL side, bringing up defenders Ken Tribbett and Taylor Washington, midfielder Matt LaGrassa, and forward Alan Winn. They also signed Brian Anunga from USL side Charleston Battery for a reported $50k transfer fee.

Miguel Nazarit was signed on a free transfer from Once Caldas in Colombia, but visa issues delayed his arrival with the team and Smith has been open that the young center back will need time to adjust. Liga MX veteran and Honduran international Brayan Beckeles was signed to bolster the defense, but at 34 years old there are questions about how many minutes he will log.

Nashville acquired defender Walker Zimmerman from LAFC in a league-record deal worth up to $1.25M as well as an international roster spot. The 2019 Best XI center back will certainly be a core of this roster in 2020.

ROSTER OUTLOOK

Goalkeeping

Joe Willis was taken in the expansion draft after spending several seasons in Houston, where he typically fell right in the middle of the pack in save percentage.