-
News
- 6 hours ago
Seattle Sounders, USYNT star Danny Leyva set to join Ryan Reynolds-owned Necaxa
Tom Weber
- Updated: 3 Dec 2025 15:53 CST
- 6 min read
News
Seattle Sounders midfielder Danny Leyva is set to join Club Necaxa, according to several sources.
The 22-year-old has seen his hugely promising career somewhat stagnate in recent seasons as he failed to establish himself as a regular starter at the Seattle Sounders.
Leyva was the youngest player in club history when he signed a homegrown contract as a 15-year-old in 2019, and he went on to make over 100 competitive appearances for the first team.
Current ETV
Danny Leyva
DM, M (C)
Seattle
Danny Leyva
DM, M (C)
Seattle
ETV Range
€0.9M - €1.3M
However, Leyva only once racked up over 20 regular-season appearances - in 2021 - and spent a few months on loan with the Colorado Rapids in the 2023 campaign.
A US youth international at various levels, Leyva made just six regular-season starts in 2025, playing fewer than 700 minutes. He did, however, crack the 1,000-minute mark across all competitions and had spells where he looked really assured.
Despite his struggles for a regular starting spot, Sounders fans have been taken by surprise by the news that the midfielder is departing.
Leyva headed to Mexico
First reported by Cesar Luis Merlo and since confirmed by Sounders journalists Niko Moreno and Jeremiah Oshan, Club Necaxa have agreed a deal with Seattle to sign Leyva on a three-year contract with the option for a further season.
This has left some supporters shocked as Leyva appeared to be earmarked as the successor to Obed Vargas, the Sounders' standout young midfielder who has been fielding interest from various European and Mexican clubs for the past 12 months.
The Sounders are trying to agree a new contract with Vargas. Losing him and Leyva in the same offseason would be damaging, especially as Leyva will reportedly fetch a fee under the $1 million mark. His departure is perhaps an indication that Vargas is staying.
Born in Las Vegas, Leyva is eligible to play for Mexico at the international level without having to file for a one-time switch with FIFA, as he has only played for US youth teams so far.
He is one of potentially several MLS stars to head south of the border this offseason. Another dual national, Brian Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire, has received interest from various Liga MX teams, while San Jose have rejected a bid from Pumas for striker Chicho Arango.
Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, as well as other celebrities like Eva Longoria, part-own three-time Mexican champions Necaxa, who finished 13th in this year's Apertura and did not qualify for the final phase.
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available in the Apple App Store. Download here:
