MLS Newcomer of the Year winners

"Newcomer" is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in the year of awarding.

2021: Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)

FINALISTS:

• Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)
• Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
• Eduardo ‘Chofis’ López (San Jose Earthquakes)

2020: Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew SC)

FINALISTS:

• Robert Berić (Chicago Fire FC)
• Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City)
• Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew SC)

2019: Carles Gil (New England Revolution)

FINALISTS:

• Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
• Héber (New York City FC)
• Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC)

2018: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy)

FINALISTS:

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy)
• Wayne Rooney (D.C. United)
• Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)

2017: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)

FINALISTS:

• Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
• Josef Martínez (Atlanta United)
• Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire)

2016: Nicolás Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)

FINALISTS:

• Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
• Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)
• Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

2015: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)

FINALISTS:

• Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact)
• Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
• Mike Grella (New York Red Bulls)

2014: Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

FINALISTS:

• Stefan Ishizaki (LA Galaxy)
• Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution)
• Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

2013: Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)

FINALISTS:

• Jose Gon alves (New England Revolution)
• Nigel Reo-Coker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
• Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)

2012: Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)

FINALISTS:

• Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
• Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC;
• Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)

2011: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)

FINALISTS:

• Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
• Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
• Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)

2010: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

FINALISTS:

• Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
• Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)
• Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

2009: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

FINALISTS:

• Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
• Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
• Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

2008: Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)

FINALISTS:

• Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)
• Claudio Lopez (Kansas City Wizards;
• Andre Rocha (FC Dallas)

2007: Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)

FINALISTS:

• Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
• Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
• Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)