St. Louis CITY SC 2024 Season Preview

MLSsoccer staff

2024 Schedule

Strength: There was a ton of buy-in up and down the roster last year, as Bradley Carnell did a masterful job of mixing in young players with potential and veteran centerpieces. Having clarity of vision – they play a direct style whether they’re pressing out of a high block or sitting in a midfield ambush – sure helped a lot with that. As did an otherworldly year from goalkeeper Roman Bürki.
Weakness: As the year wore on and teams got more precise on the ball, St. Louis’ lack of high-end chance creation became a problem. They scored two or more goals in six of their final 18 games. In their first 22 games, they scored two or more goals 13 times. Part of that was Bürki regressing to the mean, too. They can’t count on him to be superhuman again.

Nicholas Gioacchini: Gioacchini is St. Louis' first major outbound transfer (reportedly up to $4 million) after he joined Italian second-division side Como 1907 this winter. The US international striker had 10g/1a in 32 matches last year.
Jared Stroud: Stroud, alongside center back Lucas Bartlett, was traded to D.C. United. The winger had a career-high 5g/5a last year.

Nikolas Dyhr: After a Western Conference-best 2023 season, St. Louis identified fullback as an area for reinforcing. Step in Dyhr, a left back who arrives from Danish Superliga leaders Midtjylland.
Chris Durkin: St. Louis acquired Durkin from D.C. United following their record-setting MLS debut. At age 24, the midfielder and former US youth international has played in nearly 200 professional matches.
Tomas Totland: Long linked with an MLS move, Totland has landed with CITY SC. The former Norwegian youth international right back arrives from Swedish top-flight side BK Häcken.
Full roster