The 2025 Austin FC II season was the club's third season in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of soccer in the United States. They played in the league's Western Conference. Austin FC II finished in 12th place in the Western Conference and 24th overall in the 2024 MLS Next Pro season.
Background
Austin FC started playing in the MLS Western Conference in 2021. In August 2022 it was announced that they would launch a MLS Next Pro team for the 2023 season. On December 13, 2022, Austin FC announced that Brett Uttley will be the first coach for Austin FC II. Austin FC II first season was the 2023 season, where they finished the season 2nd in the Western Conference and went on to win the 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup.
Season Preseason Austin FC II announced its initial squad on January 23, 2025. Returning players for the 2025 season were Marcus Alstrup, Rubén Bonachera, Antonio Gomez, Nico Van Rijn, Anthony De Anda, Ervin Torres, Diego Abarca, Anthony García, and Peter Grogan. On January 9, 2025, Austin FC II signed duel national forward Vlad Dǎnciuțiu who represents Romanian U-19 national team and most recently played for the Udinese U-20 team. On January 20, 2025, Austin FC II signed signed Spanish midfielder Jorge Alastuey who had played most recently with ŁKS Łódź. On February 7, 2025, Austin FC II announced the signing of Polish defender Daniel Cieśla from Nieciecza. On February 13, Austin FC II announced the signing of defender Riley Thomas and forward Patrick Gryczewski, the 2025 MLS SuperDraft picks of Austin FC. On February 26, Austin FC II announced the signing of midfielder Adrián González through the 2026 season, with a one-year option. On March 5, Austin FC II announced the signing of defender Jules Bery through the 2026 season with a one-year option. Prior to the first game of the season, Austin FC II announced their final pre–season roster moves. Goalkeeper Aaron Cervantes re–signed with the team for the 2025 season with a one–year option. Midfielder Micah Burton, forward Jimmy Farkarlun, and forward CJ Fodrey were loaned from the first team for the 2025 season. Forwards Chris Avila, Joah Reyna, midfielders Mo Badawiya, Damian Perez, and Jackson Stephans, defenders Isaac Brown–Samper, Lucas Cavalcante, Santiago Maynez, Mason Miller, and Chey Moreno, and goalkeeper Cooper Roney were signed to amateur agreements for the 2025 season.
March/April Austin FC II started their 2025 season with a strong performance against Colorado Rapids 2, winning 4–2 with four different players scoring their first goals of the season. Headed into the second game of the season, Austin FC II announced two more academy players had signed amateur agreements. Goalkeeper Nico Aristizábal and forward David Santos were added to the roster for the 2025 season. Short two starters, who were called up to the first team, Austin FC II fell 0–1 to Minnesota United FC 2 in a hard-fought match at Parmer Field. On March 20, Austin FC II announced they had signed midfielder Djakaria Barro from Mallorca B. Barro signed though the 2026 season with a one-year option. In their first road game of the season, Austin visiting St. Louis City 2, earning a hard-fought point in a 0–0 draw, but dropped the potential second point, falling 5–4 in the shootout. Austin hosted North Texas at Parmer field, earning a 1–1, but dropped a point in the shootout, falling 2–4 to their instate rivals. Traveling north of the border, Austin visited Whitecaps FC 2, suffering their worse loss of the season, falling 0–4 at full time. Returning from Canada, Austin had their second in-state game against Houston Dynamo 2, falling 1–2.
May/June Austin started the month of May at home with a matchup against Sporting Kansas City II, earning a 0–0 draw, and gaining a second point, with a 7–6 shootout. After a two-week break in games, Austin travelled to the west coast for a match against Ventura County FC, earning a 1–0 win on a second have goal by Farkarlun. Returning home, Austin hosted Minnesota United FC 2, drawing 1–1 on a goal by Peter Grogan. They earned their second point by winning the shootout 4–2. Austin dropped a point against Houston with a 1–1 draw on a goal by van Rijn, but fell in the shootout 3–4. Austin then went on the road and lost 0–1 to Colorado. Next Austin travelled to North Texas, earning a 2–1 against their in-state rivals. Continuing their road stretch, Austin went into Portland and grabbed two points on a 1–1 draw and then a 5–4 shootout win. Austin finally returned home and earned a 1–0 win over Kansas City. On the last day of the month Austin announced that they had reached a mutual agreement releasing Nico van Rijn.
July/August On July 3, Austin announced the signing of free agent American midfielder Marcel Ruszel, who spent the last season playing with Polish side Stal Stalowa Wola. The following day, Austin had their best game of the season, beating LAFC 2, 4–1 on goals by Fodrey, Grogan, Torres, and Burton. On July 7, Austin announced they terminated Anthony De Anda's contract. The following day, Austin announced they had signed Mo Badawiya to an MLS Next Pro contract after he made seven appearances on his amateur agreement. Badawiya is signed through the 2027 season with two option years. St. Louis City SC 2 came into Austin on a seven-game win streak. Austin fell 2–4, to St. Louis, which was an MLSNext Pro record eighth win for St. Louis. Goals for Austin were scored by Torres and Alastuey. July 25th, Austin announced the signing of Turkish American defender Batuhan Arıcı from Ümraniyespor. Arıcı is signed through the 2026 season, with a one-year option. Later that evening, Austin earned a 2–0 win against cross–state Houston on Vlad Dănciuțiu's first goal of the season and a second half own–goal on an Austin corner kick. Austin earned another three points on the road, moving up to 4th place in the West, beating Kansas City 3-1 on a brace by Alastuey, and goal by Dănciuțiu. Austin earned a point on an extra-time goal by Alastuey, drawing with North Texas 1–1, but dropped a point in the penalty shoot–out 5–6. Austin had one of their worst showing of the year on the road, losing 1–4 to the Rapids 2. Torres scored the lone goal for Austin. Waiting late in the game, Austin scored a stoppage time winner for a 2–1 victory over Ventura County. Goals were scored by Burton and Abraca. Austin closed out the month of August with a loss on the road, falling 0–1 to LAFC.
September/October With Burton, Farkarlun, and Torres out on national duty, Austin fell 1–0 to Minnesota on the road, in a match that saw Grogan and Bonachera earn red cards in the loss. With all players back from the international break, Austin travelled to Tacoma, earning a 2–1 win, keeping their post–season hopes alive. Goas were scored by Barro, his first of the year and team leader Alastuey. With the playoffs in reach, Austin fell to St. Louis 1–2 at home, with a goal from Alastuey, who also earned a second half red card. Austin got a fast start with an early goal by Farkarlun, but fell 1–2 to Portland, putting the playoff hopes on the result of their final game of the season. Austin finished their season on the road fighting for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, earning a 2–1 win against Towne FC, but North Texas' win kept Austin in the 9th place spot in the conference, just missing the final playoff spot.
Management team Position Name Chairman Anthony PrecourtSporting Director Rodolfo Borrell Head coach Brett Uttley Goalkeeping coach Peter Davis
Roster
. No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed in Previous club Apps Goals Goalkeepers 1 Marcus Alstrup Goalkeeper 2024 B93 7 0 12 Charlie Farrar Goalkeeper (age 22) 2025 UNC Asheville 20 0 30 Stefan Cleveland Goalkeeper 2025 Austin FC 1 0 30 Nico Aritizábal Goalkeeper 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 40 Cooper Roney Goalkeeper 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 Defenders 2 Riley Thomas DF 2025 North Carolina 21 0 3 Rubén Bonachera DF 2024 Wisła Kraków II 21 1 4 Antonio Gomez DF 2024 Cal Baptist University 25 0 33 Santiago Maynez DF 2024 Austin FC Academy 1 0 34 Daniel Cieśla DF 2025 Nieciecza 24 0 35 Chuy Moreno DF 2025 Austin FC Academy 7 0 38 Lucas Cavalcante DF 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 41 Jules Bery DF 2025 Monaco U–21 15 0 42 Isaac Brown–Samper DF 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 Mason Miller DF 2024 Austin FC Academy 0 0 Nico Van Rijn DF 2024 Recreativo Granada 12 1 Anthony De Anda DF 2023 Austin FC Academy 11 0 Midfielders 6 Adrián González MF 2025 Columbus Crew 2 27 0 7 Batuhan Arıcı MF 2025 Ümraniyespor 4 0 8 Ervin Torres MF 2023 Austin FC Academy 25 4 10 Jorge Alastuey MF 2025 ŁKS Łódź 24 10 14 Djakaria Barro MF 2025 RCD Mallorca B 19 1 21 Marcel Ruszel MF 2025 Stal Stalowa Wola 6 0 27 Mo Badawiya MF 2025 Austin FC Academy 11 0 32 Micah Burton MF 2023 Austin FC 22 4 37 Damion Perez MF 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 44 Jackson Stephens MF 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0 77 Diego Abarca MF 2024 El Paso Locomotive FC 26 1 Forward 9 Peter Grogan FW 2024 Bray Wanderers 25 4 11 Patrick Gryczewski FW 2025 Rhode Islands 2 0 17 Vlad Dănciuțiu FW 2025 Udinese U-20 21 2 19 CJ Fodrey FW 2023 Austin FC 5 1 26 Jimmy Farkarlun FW 2024 Austin FC 22 5 31 Chris Avila FW 2025 Austin FC Academy 16 0 36 Joah Reyna FW 2024 Austin FC Academy 0 0 45 David Santos FW 2025 Austin FC Academy 0 0
Transfers In Date Position No. Name From Fee Ref. January 9, 2025 FW 17 Vlad Dǎnciuțiu Udinese U-20 Free January 20, 2025 MF 10 Jorge Alastuey LKS Lodz Free February 7, 2025 MF 34 Daniel Cieśla Nieciecza Free February 13, 2025 DF 2 Riley Thomas North Carolina Draft February 13, 2025 FW 11 Patrick Gryczewski Rhode Islands Draft February 26, 2025 FW 6 Adrián González Columbus Crew 2 Free February 26, 2025 DF 21 Jules Bery Monaco U–21 Free February 26, 2025 GK 20 Aaron Cervantes Ventura County FC Free March 20, 2025 MF 14 Djakaria Barro RCD Mallorca B Free April 29, 2025 GK 12 Charlie Farrar UNC Asheville Free July 3, 2025 MF 21 Marcel Ruszel Stal Stalowa Wola Free July 8, 2025 MF 27 Mo Badawiya Austin FC Academy Free July 25, 2025 DF 7 Batuhan Arıcı Ümraniyespor Free
Loan In No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource 32 MF Micah Burton Austin FC March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 26 FW Jimmy Farkarlun Austin FC March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 19 FW CJ Fodrey Austin FC March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 2 DF Riley Thomas Austin FC April 11, 2025 December 31, 2025 30 GK Stefan Cleveland Austin FC April 27, 2025 December 31, 2025
Amateur agreements No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource 31 FW Chris Avila Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 27 MF Mo Badawiya Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 June 7, 2025 42 DF Isaac Brown-Samper Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 38 DF Lucas Cavalcante Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 33 DF Santiago Maynez Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 35 DF Mason Miller Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 43 DF Chuy Moreno Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 37 MF Damion Perez Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 36 FW Joah Reyna Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 40 GK Cooper Roney Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 44 MF Jackson Stephens Austin FC Academy March 7, 2025 December 31, 2025 30 GK Nico Aristizábal Austin FC Academy March 13, 2025 December 31, 2025 45 FW David Santos Austin FC Academy March 13, 2025 December 31, 2025
Out