Alex Freeman, son of former Green Bay Packers WR Antonio Freeman, made 13 appearances for the U.S, captivating USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino in the process. His breakout came at the perfect time, a summer before the biggest World Cup in American soccer history.
The latest development in Freeman’s career is an overseas move to join the formidable La Liga side Villarreal CF in Spain.
The transfer was reported to be worth up to $7 million.
After bursting onto the scene in Major League Soccer for Orlando City SC, the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year heads to a top-five league in the world. It is an ambitious move for the 21-year-old, especially five months before the biggest sporting event in the world comes stateside.
If Freeman struggles to acclimate and get playing time, it may jeopardise his World Cup roster spot.
However, if Freeman carves out a role at his new club, it could solidify his spot on the World Cup roster and possibly the starting lineup.
It Runs in the Family
Alex’s father, Antonio, also knows a little something about playing on the big stage.
Antonio Freeman played eight of his nine seasons in Green Bay, helping the Packers win Super Bowl XXXI in 1997 over the New England Patriots.
The third round draft pick in 1995 had three years of +1,000-yard receiving yards from 1997 to 1999. His best and lone All-Pro season came in 1998, when he caught 14 receiving touchdowns and 1,424 receiving yards.
His most memorable play in the pros was a wild game-winning circus catch against the Vikings, best explained by Al Michaels.
In total, the Packers wideout ended his career with 7,251 receiving yards and 61 receiving touchdowns.
To the annoyance of non-Packers fans, broadcasters have often pointed out Alex Freeman’s father and his success with Green Bay.
Every game during the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, Antonio Freeman’s Super Bowl victory was mentioned by the FOX broadcast.
If Freeman appears in the 2026 World Cup, it’s a safe bet his father Antonio will be mentioned.
Breakout 2025 – Bigger 2026?
Making his MLS debut in 2023 for Orlando City SC, it wasn’t until 2025 that Alex Freeman really got his opportunity to impress.
His debut on April 29, 2023, was his only appearance that year. In 2024, the right back was a substitute in two games that year. By the time the 2025 campaign came around, Freeman only played 11 minutes in MLS.
He finally became a starter for Orlando in 2025 after taking the spot from Dagur Thórhallsson.
The 6-foot-2 inch defender flashed his athleticism and ability to attack throughout the season, producing six goals and four assists in 29 league games.
USMNT Call-ups
With Bundesliga right back Joe Scally being out of favor and no other U.S. international nailing down the right side of the defense, it opened the door for Freeman to get his shot. The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup was where he got his opportunity.
His first international appearance came in a friendly before the tournament in a 2-1 loss against Turkiye.
Freeman showed some nerves in his first appearance, but as the summer went on, his confidence grew.
He ended up starting every game of the tournament all the way to the final. Mexico was able to win 2-1 and defeated the U.S. squad, which was missing many key players.
Pochettino deployed Freeman in a more defensive role than he usually played for Orlando at the time. Instead of bombing up the right wing, Freeman mostly played alongside Tim Ream and Chris Richards along the backline, creeping slightly forward compared to the two traditional center backs.
Call-ups Continue
With the Gold Cup roster missing multiple mainstays for the Americans, there was a question if Freeman would continue to get called up going forward.
His call-ups not only continued, but his playtime did as well. Freeman has ended up playing in every subsequent game for the USMNT up to this point.
In the six friendlies since the Gold Cup, Freeman started three. His best performance was in the most recent game against the usually tough Uruguay.
The defender scored twice in the Yanks spirited 5-1 over the South American side. The first was a well-placed header across goal, and the second put Barcelona defender Ronald Aruajo on skates.
His breakout game against Uruguay will likely see him continue to get looks as the World Cup looms.
Player Profile
The most notable quality of Freeman that immediately jumps out is his athleticism, the complete opposite of 39-year-old Tim Ream, who may start at left center back for the U.S. The veteran relies on positioning and his mind much more than his body at this stage of his career.
The position group with the most question marks in Mauricio Potchetinno’s revamped 3-5-2 is the backline.
Premier League defender Chris Richards is a lock to spearhead the middle of the defense, but to his left and right, there are still question marks about who would be best.
Freeman has as good of a shot as anybody in the USMNT player pool to start on the right side of Richards in the first game of the World Cup against Paraguay on June. 12.
His competition for the spot will be Toulouse center back Mark McKenzie, Augsburg youngster Noakai Banks, who has burst onto the scene this season, and the aforementioned Joe Scally, who hasn’t had the easiest time winning over Pochettino.
He also has the ability to play more forward as a wingback, but with Olympique Marseille’s Tim Weah and PSV’s Sergino Dest being a part of the equation, that scenario is unlikely.
Upcoming Friendlies
The end of March is the next time the U.S. will lace up, facing two competent nations in Belgium on the 28th and Portugal on the 31st.
This will be a telling camp to see where many players rank on Pochettino’s depth chart, Freeman included.
After an explosive 2025 where he came out of nowhere, the son of the Super Bowl champion could have an even bigger 2026 thanks to a move overseas and the chance to play in a home World Cup.
Will the move to Spain squash his chances with the national team? Or will it be the perfect move to challenge himself and improve ahead of the summer?