Houston Dynamo bet on young talent to reshape midfield and ignite future success | OneFootball

Houston Dynamo still work on strengthening their squad for the 2025 MLS season, while the signing of 20-year-old Erik Dueñas points toward promising talent and technical solutions. Dueñas was signed through 2025, with options to extend until 2028, after being selected from LAFC's year-end waivers list. This raises some eyebrows and begs certain questions but also opens doors toward new possibilities in the Dynamo's future.

A young player with experience under his belt, Erik Dueñas might not brag about mindboggling stats-zero goals and just two assists in 48 appearances for LAFC-but his journey speaks volumes about the kind of player he is going to be. Grown through LAFC's competitive environment, he experienced high-stakes moments like the MLS Cup appearance in 2023 and the US Open Cup title in 2024.

That is priceless experience even for a player in a secondary role, so young. Dueñas brings with him clear lessons on what it takes to compete in a winning team, something Houston Dynamo will no doubt be looking to capitalize on.

Why Dueñas makes sense for the Dynamo

Houston Dynamo General Manager Pat Onstad outlined why Dueñas is a smart addition: for his versatility, technical ability, and the experience he has picked up in a successful environment. Onstad explained how the young midfielder fits into the club's philosophy: "Erik is a versatile midfielder that will benefit from our possession-based style and our focus on developing promising young players.

Moreover, Dueñas is precisely the kind of player who can provide depth to the Dynamo's central midfield. Not an immediate starter, his midfield versatility gives the coaching staff more tactical flexibility to change through the course of the season.

Challenges and opportunities for Dueñas

But for all his promise, Dueñas does arrive in Houston with something to prove. The period at LAFC was mostly marked by limited direct impact-partly a factor of his youth and the competitiveness of the roster. Now, he has the chance to make a meaningful dent at the Dynamo.

Going from a star-studded locker room in LAFC to Houston-where player development remains one of the prime focuses-could be just what he needs. Of course, the challenge will be to meet the expectations for a team striving to firm up as a competitive force in MLS.

Dynamo's outlook for 2025

The Houston Dynamo enter 2025 with a pretty clear objective in mind: continuing to build out a competitive team that will be able to make a push into the playoffs and beyond. Dueñas' arrival is part of that, but far from the only move the club has made. This strategy of mixing in young prospects with experienced players pays dividends in the medium and long term, provided it's executed with patience and precision.

But adding to that excitement, the Dynamo open the season against archrival FC Dallas in the Texas Derby, which already adds an extra layer of pressure and expectation onto their campaign.