Everything you need to know about the 2025 offseason so far ahead of three friendly matches against MLS competition
Since the 2024 version of the Lights capped off a historic season with a close loss in the Western Conference Final, a lot has happened. While the players took some much deserved time off, Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia was a busy man throughout December and January.
It was a lot to keep up with over the holiday season as the announcements came thick and fast. So, in case you missed an announcement or two, here’s a 2025 offseason recap so far to catch you up before the team’s first preseason friendlies.
New Coaching Staff
The biggest domino fell in early January when the club hired new Head Coach Antonio Nocerino to lead the team into 2025 and beyond. Dennis Sanchez, who led the team in 2024, had previously departed in late December to take the same role at New Mexico United.
Nocerino boasts a legendary playing career that features 247 appearances in Serie A – the Italian top division – for several clubs, including traditional powerhouses AC Milan and Juventus. He also has 15 caps for the Italian national team, notably scoring a penalty in a winning shootout over England at EURO 2012.
Hiring such a notable figure in the world game is a statement of intent from the club’s leadership. Neglia, in particular, believes that the Italian’s extensive playing experience at the top level is the perfect fit to work with a very young core of players in Las Vegas.
“As we create a player-first organization focused on growth, Antonio’s experience will be key in helping our players develop,” Neglia said when Nocerino was officially announced. “After reaching the Western Conference Final in 2024, our aim is to establish ourselves as a consistent contender in the league, and we believe Antonio is the right person and coach to lead this team to its next step on the field.”
Additionally, a new-look coaching staff will join Nocerino on the sidelines.
Ian Coll will return as the club’s High Performance Director. In 2025, he will serve in a dual role as both High Performance Director and Assistant Coach. Giovanni Troise joins as Assistant Coach after working with Nocerino at his previous stop at Miami FC, and Maximiliano Jose Rabinovich will be the club’s Goalkeeper Coach.
Returning Players
The Lights have welcomed back 14 core players from the 2024 squad. This is a notable step forward for the club, as the team can build continuity on the field despite the coaching changes.
This development is important when looking through on off-the-field lens, too. Fans can look forward to reconnecting with some of their favorite players from last season and continue to share meaningful moments with them post-match at Cashman Field, something that is not always a given in a very tumultuous league.
Notably, midfielder Valentin Noel returns after scoring 11 goals and adding seven assists in 2024. His 11 goals were good for second-best on the team and his seven assists were fourth-best in the entire league.
Goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena also returns after keeping a club-record nine shutouts over the course of the 2024 season. In the club’s first-ever playoff match, he saved three penalties in the shootout against Sacramento Republic FC to seal the victory at home.
Both Christian Pinzon and Shawn Smart signed new contracts with the club during the offseason. Pinzon’s new contract is through 2026 after the forward scored three match-winning goals in 2024. Smart’s new contract is through 2027 after he made 35 appearances as a first-year professional last season.
The remaining returning players include: goalkeeper Nicholas Ammeter, defenders Elias Gartig, Maliek Howell, Gennaro Nigro, and Gaoussou Samake, midfielders Charlie Adams, Edison Azcona, and Coleman Gannon, and forwards Vaughn Covil and Joe Gyau.
New Signings
Obviously, 14 players does not make a full roster. New signings are needed for teams at all levels of the game to refresh the squad from year-to-year. Over the final weeks of January, the club sealed six new signings to fill out the roster and help the team take the next step.
First, midfielder Patrick Leal joined after making 35 appearances with four goals and four assists for New England Revolution II throughout the 2023 and 2024 MLS NEXT Pro seasons.
Then, forward Nighte Pickering signed following a two-year stint with Memphis 901 FC. The 19-year-old has already accumulated 70 professional appearances with 12 goals and is a promising prospect with a high ceiling.
Finally, the club announced four new defenders in rapid succession: Turner Humphrey, Jack Singer, Shaft Brewer Jr., and Nate Jones.
The first three joined the club as free agents. Humphrey made 28 appearances for North Texas SC in MLS NEXT Pro in 2024. Singer had a decorated five-year college career between the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Virginia. Brewer is an experienced professional, most notably with 32 appearances for North Carolina FC in 2024 and an excellent two-year stay with Union Omaha of USL League One.
Nate Jones joined the club on a season-long loan from MLS side Colorado Rapids. Formerly a fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Jones made 26 appearances for the Rapids’ MLS NEXT Pro side last season.
The Jones loan is big news, especially considering the huge success the team saw with MLS loans last year.
J.C. Ngando, on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, was named to the USL All-League Second Team after scoring two goals with five assists in 33 regular season matches. Ousman Jabang and Grayson Doody joined on loan in the summer, both from CF Montreal, and made 14 and 13 appearances, respectively, as key pieces for the team down the stretch. Ngando and Jabang both earned new contracts with their MLS clubs after the completion of their loans, and Doody was signed by Orange County SC in the offseason.
Replicating the success of those MLS loans is clearly one part of Neglia’s plan for elevating this team into consistent championship contenders.
Club-Record Transfers
In addition to the returning players and new signings, the club sealed two outgoing player transfers for club-record fees in January.
First, the Lights transferred defender Joe Hafferty to fellow USL Championship side Lexington Sporting Club for a club-record deal on Monday, January 13.
Then, the club transferred forward Khori Bennett to Kuwait club Al-Nasr SC in another club-record deal on Tuesday, January 14.
At the time of the deals, Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia said: “Ultimately, building a successful professional club involves being active in both buying and selling players… We’re excited to be able to break our transfer record twice in a single week. These deals demonstrate that we are serious players in the world market and a great place for players to develop. We now look forward to continuing to strengthen the squad ahead of the 2025 season.”
The important thing to note here is that the club is becoming active in both buying and selling players. Any club around the world must generate revenue and make sound decisions on player sales, which in turn helps to fund new player acquisitions.
Both Hafferty and Bennett were brought in ahead of the 2024 season on free transfers before being sold on for a fee. While both players were big contributors last year, sometimes the best move is to make a smart sale that is best for both the business of the club and the player’s career progression.
Ultimately, both club-record sales demonstrate that Las Vegas Lights FC is now here to be a major force at the top of the USL Championship, and the club will continue to reinforce the roster with exciting new players as part of this process.
What’s Next?
As it stands, the club has 20 players officially signed ahead of the 2025 season. Clearly, there is more space on the roster to make further additions, and Neglia will continue to work on finalizing the roster with several more additions.
In the meantime, Nocerino and the team will charge ahead with their preseason preparations. They have three preseason friendlies up next in Coachella to test themselves against MLS competition.
- Saturday, February 8 (10:00 a.m.) vs. Real Salt Lake
- Wednesday, February 12 (Time TBD) vs. Sporting Kansas City
- Saturday, February 15 (Time TBD) vs. Chicago Fire FC
Stay tuned to the official Lights social media channels for live updates from all three friendlies!
And, in the meantime, tickets are on sale now for the team’s home opener on Saturday, March 8 versus the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Head over to lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets to claim your seat now!
Las Vegas Lights FC Current 2025 Roster
(returners italicized, new signings bolded):
Goalkeepers (2): Nicholas Ammeter, Raiko Arozarena
Defenders (9): Shaft Brewer Jr., Elias Gärtig, Maliek Howell, Turner Humphrey, Nate Jones, Gennaro Nigro, Gaoussou Samake, Jack Singer, Shawn Smart
Midfielders (5): Charlie Adams, Edison Azcona, Coleman Gannon, Patrick Leal, Valentin Noël
Forwards (4): Vaughn Covil, Joe Gyau, Nighte Pickering, Christian Pinzón