Baltimore, Maryland native Alex Freeman has completed an intriguing transfer to La Liga club Villareal. We'll look at the impact of the transfer on the young USMNT right back and if he will still make the 2026 World Cup roster.
Alex Freeman experienced a breakout 2025 MLS campaign which elevated him into the conversation for a spot on United States Men's National Team selections.
The 21-year-old only made three MLS appearances with Orlando City in 2024, but earned the starting role in 2025 and became one of the top right backs in the league.
Freeman's rise was rapid, and he was named a 2025 MLS All-Star, MLS Young Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the league's best XI.
Alex Freeman's Transfer to Villareal
Orlando City have officially transferred their budding star to La Liga club Villareal for around $4 million, and Freeman has therefore signed a new contract that will last through June 2032.
The transfer includes another possible $3 million in add-ons and Orlando retains a sell-on clause that can earn them even more money if he makes another move in the future.
This deal is a record fee for an academy player from Orlando City.
Is Villareal transfer good for Alex Freeman?
Villareal are currently 4th in La Liga, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, and are seven points clear of the fifth placed team, RCD Espanyol.
Joining a competitive team could be good or bad for Freeman depending on how many minutes he'll be able to get, but Villareal do have a strong track record of developing young players.
He'll join another former MLS talent at the Spanish club who has benefitted from the transfer. Canadian international forward Tani Oluwaseyi made the move from Minnesota United to Villareal this summer.
Oluwaseyi has scored seven goals in 26 matches as a forward, but he has benefitted from lots of playing time which is exactly what Freeman needs.
Freeman will have to deal with a learning curve in his move to La Liga, but the best way to overcome that curve is to play matches.
Freeman is a modern fullback with all of the physical tools in the world, but he will need to improve on his defensive positioning and ball skills in a much more technical league than MLS.
Villareal should allow Freeman to learn and develop his technical abilities while leaning on his physical attributes which should be beneficial for his development.
How much will Alex Freeman play for Villareal?
Since Villareal are competing for a UEFA Champions League place in La Liga, they will not want to sacrifice their strongest team to help develop Freeman.
Villareal has two other young right backs that Freeman will competing with for a spot on the team - Pau Navarro, and Santiago Mourino.
20-year-old Navarro has made 13 appearances, while 23-year-old Mourino has made 19 appearances this season.
Neither player that Freeman will be competing with is nearly as threating going forward as the American, and Villareal do not have a consistent right back that will play week-in and week-out. With that said, Freeman could absolutely play a lot if he hits the ground running.
Will Alex Freeman play at the World Cup?
Freeman, the son of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman, has been a consistent selection for Mauricio Pochettino's team while playing in the MLS, so fans would expect to see him in the 2026 USMNT World Cup roster.
Transfers ahead of a World Cup can either be positive or negative for a player, and it all depends on how well they settle in to their new situation. With the World Cup less than six months away, the young full back will need to settle very quickly at Villareal to be guaranteed a spot on the national team.
Pochettino favors players who play for their club teams consistently, so earning quality minutes for Villareal will be crucial for solidifying his World Cup chances.
Tim Weah and Sergino Dest are the two players that Freeman will be competing with on the USMNT, and both players are at a Champions League level for Marseille and PSV respectively.
Sitting on the bench for Villareal will absolutely hurt his chances of being selected by Pochettino, but if he plays he is likely to make to team.
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