After a dismal end to 2024 things are looking up for 2025, new coach is in town and it's time to start signing some players.

Just announced a few days ago, MLS veteran defensive midfielder Ille Sanchez to a non-TAM deal:

For more on Ilie's arrival. ⬇️https://t.co/5kZ6C2dEIM

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) December 31, 2024

He's older (34) but came up through Barcelona's academy and is considered one of the better tactical players in MLS, performed well for LAFC last season. This is basically Ring's replacement at about half the price and could really help control the pitch.


And in the please let it happen rumor mill…

🚨Rayados tiene negociaciones avanzadas para vender a Brandon Vázquez a Austin FC. ⬇️https://t.co/YYC2MfuJxh pic.twitter.com/lndJ4GO9fL

— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) January 1, 2025

Occasional USMNT and former FC Cincy striker Brandon Vasquez has had a move back to MLS in the works for a few weeks and it looks like it could be to ATX. He scored 28 goals in two seasons as a starter for Cincy and would be a huge upgrade to the attack.

Vasquez to Austin official as a DP signing, we finally have a real striker.

For more on Brandon's arrival. ⬇️https://t.co/TPuX5oXtZQ

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) January 6, 2025

Other interesting transfer news...

🚨VAZQUEZ AND DRIUSSI UPDATE🚨

Per @tombogert: Brandon Vazquez is set to join Austin FC in a $10M club-record deal that will make him a Designated Player.

Bogert also reports that Sebastian Driussi is close to joining River Plate and if he departs the club, Austin FC will look… pic.twitter.com/juiYkCMN0A

— WeAreAustinTV (@WeAreAustinTV) January 6, 2025

Looks like Driussi is probably on the way out...

🟢 Sources: Sebastian Driussi no-shows mandatory medical to kick off Austin FC preseason as he tries to force a move to River Plate

❌ ATX made clear to Driussi he won't leave unless acceptable bid comes + replacement ready

🇦🇷 No agreement w/ River Platehttps://t.co/fh9ypdPkyL

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 12, 2025

Sell him to Boca

You may not be far off.

The latest…

🟢 Sources: Estudiantes will meet Austin FC’s asking price for forward Sebastian Driussi, trying to beat River Plate to the signing.

🇦🇷 Estudiantes now working on personal terms with Driussi.

⏳ Still no agreement on fee between Austin and River Plate. pic.twitter.com/OHqg3hv0A8

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 12, 2025

Here we go (and Rodo did some great dealing on this one after rejecting their first two offers)...

🔴🇦🇷 BREAKING: Austin FC and River Plate have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Sebastian Driussi, per sources.

💰 The deal is around $10 million.

🔜 Final steps now for Driussi to return to River Plate. Austin will add new DP.

🤝 @CLMerlo pic.twitter.com/Cs0QhbugJz

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 15, 2025

And we don't appear to be slowing down. New DP looks to pretty much be a done deal, this has been a rumor for about two weeks now so sounds like they already had Driussi out the door…

🟢🇦🇱 BREAKING: Austin FC have agreed deal to sign Albania int'l forward Myrto Uzuni from Granada, per sources

ATX will trigger $12.3m (€12m) release clause. Deal not done, pending final details & medical

Would be 3rd new club-record transfer in 6 monthshttps://t.co/U8sRXMqGFH

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 16, 2025

And as Bogert notes we have opened the pocketbook…

Austin FC potentially breaking their transfer record a third times in six months would be wild. Really awesome to see the club's reloading accelerating.

Could be a new-look attack around Osman Bukari, Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni very soon https://t.co/3gQgdU0AG0

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 16, 2025

Also looks like we have a pretty aggressive U-22 signing that was rumored a week or two back…

🟢 Sources: Austin FC completes deal to sign midfielder Nicolás Dubersarsky from Instituto ACC. @CLMerlo first reported the deal.

🇦🇷 Dubersarsky, 20, made 27 apps for Instituto. Joining Austin FC as part of the club's huge offseason. pic.twitter.com/rSPiNkQTPJ

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 16, 2025

This is shaping up to be a fun season…

Definitely a huge makeover. Lets go.

Whoa. I had no idea anyone outside of Miami or LAFC could afford those kinds of transfer fees.

The club is definitely spending some surprising money, I'm here for it.

Driussi officially gone as announced by the club today:

Austin FC has reached an agreement to transfer Sebastián Driussi to River Plate.

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) January 17, 2025

Reportedly for $10 million plus a sell on clause so that sure helps offset the other transfers happening:

Sources: River Plate have completed the deal to sign Sebastian Driussi from Austin FC.

Austin will receive $10 million fee + 8.5% sell-on clause. https://t.co/ecgsBdZOrc

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 17, 2025

And rumor is the new DP is a done deal, we're going to have a front line we've spent $30 million on.

🟢🇦🇱 BREAKING: Austin FC have agreed deal to sign Albania int'l forward Myrto Uzuni from Granada, per sources

ATX will trigger $12.3m (€12m) release clause. Deal not done, pending final details & medical

Would be 3rd new club-record transfer in 6 monthshttps://t.co/U8sRXMqGFH

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 16, 2025

Fully on the hype train

Round 1 of Coachella invitational v LA Galaxy was streamable today.
Sanchez and Vazquez were the only signings from the above list that have made it to town. Hoping everyone e else gets visas done quickly so they have time to gel.
Missed the start when Galaxy scored, but we were on our heels most of the 1st half that I did see.
Torres and Burton from the Academy got some minutes and they played Bukari on the left, very limited time there, but didn't feel natural.

Interesting to me that Kolmanic seems to be trusted by Estevez to go forward more. Maybe hoping his service plus Vazquez = defense under pressure.

Sundays game a tale of two games within games as Austin fielded most of same starters from Tuesday and after 60 minutes subbed off all 11.
Bearing that in mind, we won 1-0 (the first of those games) & lost the second 0-1 for a net 1-1 draw. Scores of preseason games meaningless so to focus on things that might translate to the season.

Bukari still playing on the left and as always is quick enough to put defenders on their back heels. He went wide to the end line and had a good enough cross on with his left foot do be dangerously multiple times. Too early to tell if this switch sticks, but cautiously optimistic as him on one side and Obrian on the other is a ton of pace.

Vazquez will be a threat in the middle.
Didn't score but it seemed like he and Bukari starting to figure out how to work together.
Could have easily been 4-0 Austin at half w multiple dangerous crosses and Austin had most of possession, in sharp contrast to the game v Galaxy.

Yeah, hard to take away much from these with all the moving parts. The first goal we gave up in game 1 was mostly on the rookie playing defender so can't hate too much there. There was a fun little tussle where ***undez fouled Svatok, Svatok gave him a little tug as he went down, then ***undez stepped to him before realizing he didn't want any of that I'll post the video if I can find it.

Agreed that Bukari is starting to look like a real threat, excited to see him with Vasquez and soon Uzuni. Wolff is looking really good in preseason too, fingers crossed we'll get a breakout season from him.

Uzuni introductory presser yesterday, doubt we'll see him in the 18 on Saturday but hopefully soon. Seems to have some irrational confidence which is a quality I like to see in forwards

Great start to the season. 3 pts at home.

We played more aggressive than we have in at least two seasons. We looked like the better team throughout most of the match.

That said, Bukari seemed awkward and maybe out of position? Super sub Gallagher coming in and Bukari changing sides seemed to be the difference maker. There were a few sloppy passes from several players. These are things that I hope a competent coach can improve.

Listos!

Yup, overall really solid match to start off.

Vazquez is SO much better than any striker we've had and just missed a rip off the crossbar that he created with a perfect run. Desler and Biro both looked really good, Ilie is the 6 we've needed, and Wolff looks like he's coming into his own. Sabovic also looked really good in his few minutes late in the game.

We did play Bukari on the left rather than his usual right for most of the match, and you can tell he's not comfortable cutting in from there like he does on the right. Pretty sure we'll see him back on the right as soon as Uzuni is match fit.

I'm excited to see this attack when the team really starts to gel.

Between Vazquez and Sanchez we won more long ball headers (and controlled them) in this game than I think we did all last season.

Desler we was a monster on defense and MOTM for me as he also got forward in attack.

Would love it if Bukari on the left experiment worked out, but he didn't once take his man to touch, just, as previously mentioned cut back to right.

Fun to watch.

Good win.