Mexico’s star midfielder Hector Herrera won’t be back with the Houston Dynamo next season. Dynamo announced it declined the 2025 option on Herrera’s contract, making him a free agent.
The move comes just days after Herrera received a red card in a MLS Cup Playoffs round one clash against the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders went on to win the game on penalties and eliminate Houston from the postseason.
Herrera, who spent most of his career playing for Portugal’s powerhouse Porto and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, joined Dynamo in 2022 as a Designated Player. He was considered a big coup for the franchise and seemed like a great return on investment in his first full season in MLS.
In 2023, Herrera scored four goals and added 12 assists in the MLS regular season while earning an All-Star nod and helping the club to a U.S. Open Cup win. The 2024 saw his impact diminish, although he still managed to earn his second All-Star appearance.
Besides Herrera, Dynamo also parted ways with several other players, declining options on the contracts of left-back Brad Smith, goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, and a trio of midfielders in Junior Moreno, Jan Gregus, and Ousmane Sylla.
“For those not returning, I sincerely thank them for their contributions to the club and wish them well in the next step of their careers. As we look to 2025, we will return the core of our team, and we are already working hard to build on our foundation in the coming transfer windows,” Dynamo’s General Manager Pat Onstad said in a statement.
