2025 Position Group Preview - Attackers
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Major League Soccer season is fast approaching. The Houston Dynamo will get their 2025 campaign underway on February 22. After two straight playoff appearances, the Dynamo have gone through some changes this offseason. Leading up to the first match against FC Dallas we’ll be breaking down each position group, the players within the group, and some expectations for them. We start today with the forwards/attackers.
Ibrahim Aliyu
2024 stats (MLS play): 34 appearances, 6 goals, 4 assists
Projected 2025 role: Starting left wing
For as much flack as Aliyu gets from the Dynamo fanbase, he did lead the team in goals last season and was second in assists behind Amine Bassi and Coco Carrasquilla. Aliyu is one of the best players in all Major League Soccer in progressive receptions, receiving any pass that is up the field at least ten yards or is into the opposing penalty area. Aliyu trailed only Gabriel Pec in all of MLS in this statistic last season. This trait is key in the way Ben Olsen likes to play, with Aliyu able to stretch the field and start attacks. He will have a lot of competition for his job in 2025 but should be the nailed-on starter to begin the season.
Stephen Annor
2024 stats (MLS play): 0 appearances
Projected 2025 role: Dynamo 2
Annor spent his rookie season in 2024 with Dynamo 2. The SuperDraft pick scored three goals and added one assist in 22 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro. As a Generation adidas player, he’ll still be on the roster, but unless an injury happens to Ponce or Segal, Annor will be with Dos again in 2025.
Exon Arzu
2024 stats (MLS play): 0 appearances
Projected 2025 role: Option off the bench/Dynamo 2
Another addition to this talented and crowded group of left wingers is Arzu. He had 3 goals and an assist in 12 appearances with Dynamo 2 in 2024. The Honduran now has a first team contract and has been impressive this preseason. Arzu will turn 21 this season and is still very raw. He could get a chance off the bench early in the season with Quinones and Ennali coming back from their injuries. Once those two are back full time, Arzu will probably get most of his minutes with Dos.
Amine Bassi
2024 stats (MLS play): 31 appearances, 3 goals, 6 assists
Projected 2025 role: Starting attacking midfielder or right wing
Bassi is another player that gets some negativity from the fanbase, but he led the team in assists in 2024 with six. He is one of the best creators in Major League Soccer, finishing 9th in MLS in shot-creating actions last season, only behind players like Lucho Acosta, Riqui Puig, and Evander. If the Dynamo get their Designated Player number 10 in that could move Bassi to the right-wing role. Wherever he plays, and as good a creator as he is, the Dynamo need more goals from Bassi. With Ponce and hopefully another big-name attacker, Bassi should get those chances to score and add even more assists.
Erik Dueñas
2024 stats (MLS play): 14 appearances (with LAFC)
Projected 2025 role: Jack of all trades
The Dynamo acquired the 20-year-old Dueñas this offseason after he spent 5 seasons at LAFC. Dueñas will be a Swiss Army Knife for Ben Olsen. He has spent a lot of time in the right winger role this preseason but can play all over the field. Dueñas could push Kowalczyk for time, but he will also be an option in the midfield, or even at right back.
Lawrence Ennali
2024 stats (MLS play): 2 appearances, 1 goal
Projected 2025 role: Super sub/potential starter later in the season
Speaking of dynamic wingers, Ennali fits that bill perfectly. His goal at LAFC last season made Dynamo fans excited for his potential. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL minutes later and was lost for the remainder of the year. Ennali is doing well in his rehab, by all accounts, and should be back in the summer, if not a little sooner. This left winger group is very talented, and very crowded. It may take Lawrence some time to get back up to speed but getting him in what amounts to a summer signing will be huge for Houston.
Sebastian Kowalczyk
2024 stats (MLS play): 33 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist
Projected 2025 role: Starting right wing
Kowalczyk did well when given the chance to play in the “Coco role” last season and he looks to be the starter in that right wing position coming into 2025. Kowalczyk is very strong on the ball, he completed 82.8 percent of passes last season and averaged over 4 progressive passes per 90 minutes. Carrasquilla is a big loss for the Dynamo, but Kowalczyk has the skillset and ability to make Dynamo fans quickly forget about Coco.
Ezequiel Ponce
2024 stats (MLS play): 10 appearances, 5 goals
Projected 2025 role: Starting striker
Ponce comes into his first full season looking to grow on his brief time in MLS in 2024. With a goal every other game last year, while adapting to a new league, Ponce will look to be even better than that in 2025. The Argentine will be the main man to shoulder the goal scoring load for Houston with Sebas Ferreira now gone.
Nelson Quinones
2024 stats (MLS play): 0 appearances
Projected 2025 role: Super sub/potential starter later in the season
It’s been over a year since we have seen Quinones in a Dynamo kit. The Colombian got injured before the 2024 season and missed the whole year. He’s back in training and there have been hints that he could be ready to play a role as early as the start of the season. Quinones showed flashes of brilliance in 2023 and is still just 22 years old. If he can get back to full health and find his form, he gives the Dynamo a dynamic (no pun intended) option up front.
Gabe Segal
2024 stats (MLS play): 13 appearances, 2 goals
Projected 2025 role: Backup striker
Simply looking at his stats last year, Segal scored nearly one goal per 90 minutes in MLS play. He also had a big year with Dynamo 2, scoring 10 times in MLS NEXT Pro. Now Segal comes into 2025 as the backup to Ponce, with no other pure number nines on the roster. If Gabe can build off his performances with Dos last season, he should be capable of coming off the bench and spelling Ponce when needed.
