Alex Freeman’s meteoric rise in the soccer world could potentially reach stratospheric heights this summer.
Freeman, the son of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman, had yet to become a regular starter for Major League Soccer club Orlando City around this time last year. But now, the rising star defender has been linked to a move abroad to Spain.
The Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reported on Friday afternoon that La Liga side Villarreal had agreed to a deal in principle with Freeman. Freeman has also drawn interested from unnamed Premier League clubs, per McGrath.
MLS insider Tom Bogert, however, offered a conflicting report that no deal has been agreed upon. According to Bogert’s sources, Orlando City are not interested in moving Freeman during the summer transfer window, as he remains under contract for the next 18 months. The American club also reportedly “have an offer out” to sign him to a new deal through the league’s U22 initiative, a roster mechanism that allows MLS teams to sign players under 22 years of age to more expensive contracts without significantly impacting their salary cap space.
Freeman made his first start for Orlando on March 1 of this year and has since been one of the club’s most valuable players. In MLS play, Freeman has appeared in 21 matches (starting 20 of them), scoring four goals and providing two assists in 1,834 minutes. He was the youngest player named to this year’s MLS All-Star Team.
Mauricio Pochettino also called upon Freeman to play for the United States men’s national team this summer. He earned his first cap in a friendly against Turkey on June 7 before starting all six of the United States’ games at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
