Harkes, 23, seems likely to join another MLS team or explore options overseas. Born in England while his father, John, was a star player, Ian has been pursuing a British passport, which would ease a move to Europe. (His paternal roots are Scottish.)

Before signing with United ahead of the 2017 season, Harkes trained with English club Derby County’s under-23 squad. Over the years, many young Americans have launched European careers in Scandinavia.

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United, one source said, loves Harkes’s work ethic and professionalism, but because he is low on the depth chart, the team believes he would thrive elsewhere and is willing to let him go.

United is not commenting on personnel matters. Harkes’s agent, Lyle Yorks, said he did not want to comment. Harkes did not reply to a text message.

The MLS deadline for teams to submit contract option renewals and rejections was Monday, but United was not planning to release its list publicly until Wednesday, at the earliest.

Harkes grew up in Fairfax, Va., and starred at Gonzaga High School in the District and at Wake Forest University. John Harkes captained United in MLS’s early years before moving to New England and Columbus; he retired after the 2002 season. They became the seventh father-son combination to play in the league.

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After winning the 2016 Hermann Trophy as college soccer’s best player, Ian started 22 of 34 matches for United last season, scoring twice and assisting once. He finished fifth in rookie of the year voting and received a U.S. national team call-up for the MLS-heavy winter camp last January.

In the MLS offseason, however, United acquired two experienced national team midfielders: Venezuela’s Junior Moreno and Costa Rica’s Ulises Segura. Additionally, Russell Canouse and Chris Durkin won playing time in defensive midfield, Luciano Acosta enjoyed a resurgence in the attacking position and, for a midseason spell, Coach Ben Olsen paired winger Paul Arriola with Acosta centrally.

All are likely to return next season.

As the odd man out, Harkes made eight appearances (four starts) and played once in the last three months, an emergency start at right wing for undermanned United against New York City FC.