New Signings & Trades: FC Dallas Kicks Off Intriguing Offseason
Today, FC Dallas announced Israeli midfielder Ran Binyamin as a new U22 signing, and we revisit SuperDraft thoughts with the front office grabbing another draft pick.
Welcome to silly season, FC Dallas fans, when rumors and transfers surprise, intrigue, and disappoint all at once.
But at least for the moment, every team has the potential to be a champion, including our beloved Frisco side.
With a strange and exhilarating 2025 nearly behind us, FC Dallas looks to a new year to build on what they already know - this roster has talent to compete. There is an identity to build around. Eric Quill is not out of his depth as a Major League Soccer head coach. If anything, the team needs key reinforcements to push them forward - along with some young players growing into their roles.
That is achievable.
Welcome Ran Binyamin
The first piece of the offseason fell into shape today, a well-reported rumor circling the social media landscape, as FC Dallas officially announced Israeli-Polish midfielder Ran Binyamin as a U22 signing. Ran is 21 years old, coming out of Israel’s second division, where he contributed 34 appearances, 7 goals, and 7 assists. The press release highlights his role as a box-to-box midfielder, high energy kind of guy, the type that Quill wants his roster stacked with.
As he is a U22 signing, we aren’t expecting him to make an immediate impact, but the offseason provides a chance for him to work his way into the pecking order and claim some minutes over the course of the season. At 21 years old, he could end up being an inexpensive rotational piece for the team. If the front office is right, he might emerge into another legit starter as he acclimates to the league.
U22 signings are tricky - the idea was to open up the possibility for Major League Soccer teams to buy more intriguing young talent to develop them and sell them. Whether that is working or not is disputable. Read Arman Kafai’s great piece from earlier this year on this initiative and its effectiveness.
Regardless, it’s the first tangible move of the offseason for FC Dallas they look to find the right guys to make last year’s playoff run stretch.
Here’s a nice goal from the midfielder:
SuperDraft Almost Here
The other big move was FC Dallas once again investing heavily in the MLS SuperDraft, which kicks off this Thursday, to find diamonds in the rough. They did so by adding another first round and third round pack via trade with CF Montreal:
FC Dallas announced today that it acquired CF Montréal’s third overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, as well as Toronto FC’s natural third-round pick that Montréal obtained in July 2025. In exchange, Dallas sent $350,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), $175,000 in 2026 GAM, $175,000 in 2027 GAM and its second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
With the trade, FC Dallas now holds three first-round picks and one third-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, which takes place Thursday, Dec. 18.
Some Major League Soccer teams are completely uninvested in the SuperDraft, trading picks for whatever dollar they can get. Others, like FC Dallas, still see it as a useful tool to build out a roster or provide talent to their MLS Next Pro side. And really, we fans shouldn’t denigrate the work that the Burn are doing in this area. Historically, FC Dallas has done well via the draft. Really well.
Most recently, for example, FC Dallas discovered a phenom named Sam Sarver who took his shot at pro soccer with both hands via North Texas Soccer Club and helped Dallas into the playoffs last season. Or how about Logan Farrington, a pick any number of teams would want to have a do-over on?
Looking further back, FC Dallas selected guys like Dax McCarty, Brek Shea, Eric Avila, George John, Zach Loyd, Matt Hedges, Ryan Hollingshead, Walker Zimmerman, Tesho Akindele, Ema Twumasi, and John Nelson — all who contributed for the team or across the league.
With three first round SuperDraft picks, FC Dallas has likely identified some interesting guys they think can help the team or at least get a year to develop with North Texas. Expect at least one goalkeeper. Expect a defender who is young but needs some seasoning. Maybe the team will try to find that next Sarver or Farrington.
Again, don’t hold your breath on a signing from the SuperDraft making an immediate impact, but FC Dallas have hit pretty well on guys who end up having some upside.
What else are we hearing?
There is some suggestion that FC Dallas is looking at a free agent defender, via a cryptic Instagram video of Henry Kessler taking a restful vacation to scenic downtown Frisco.
But Director of Soccer Operations Andre Zanotta told the media that Dallas is not going to be looking for a center-back in the offseason. Was that trying to build some leverage? Or is this just a chance to upgrade a position via an unexpected opportunity? Maybe Kessler wants to leave St Lous behind and experience real food in Texas?
We don’t know.
But it would be an interesting move that could open the door for further trades or even a buyout if the club feel they have a logjam at the central defender position.