Austin FC‘s top player from 2025 is no longer with the club.
The Verde and Black announced Wednesday that they traded midfielder Owen Wolff to Sporting Kansas City for cash. Austin FC receives $4.5 million up front and could get up to an additional $3.1 million if Wolff meets certain performance-based conditions.
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In its statement, Austin FC said Wolff, whose dad, Josh Wolff, led the club for its first four years and was fired at the end of the 2024 season, requested a move last winter.
“While it is not an easy decision to part ways with a player of Owen’s caliber, there have been substantive discussions since December of last year whereby the club expressed willingness to grant Owen his wish of playing elsewhere if an agreeable solution were to materialize,” Austin FC interim coach Davy Arnaud said. “Our leadership team, with the support of our ownership group, was willing to honor his wishes so long as the offer matched the quality and trajectory of the player. We feel that this is the right move for the club as we continue to position ourselves for long-term success.”
Wolff, 21, led the Verde and Black a year ago with 15 goal contributions as it made a run to the U.S. Open Cup and qualified for the MLS playoffs. But he’s struggled to get on the field this season due to multiple health issues. He had sports hernia surgery in January that delayed his first appearance until May, then suffered another injury Aug. 9 against Puebla. He only has eight appearances this campaign and no goal contributions.
A member of the club’s youth academy when it opened, Wolff signed with Austin FC in 2021 and made his first appearance Sept. 29 of that year at Colorado.
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Wolff finished with 10 goals and 23 assists in 147 appearances across all competitions.
Though certainly the biggest, it wasn’t the only move Austin FC made Tuesday as the end of the summer transfer window approaches next week. The club also sold midfielder Jayden Nelson to English Championship side Bolton Wanderers for $1.1 million and loaned forward CJ Fodrey to Scottish Premiership side Falkirk.
Nelson, who turns 24 next month, was just acquired by the club in the offseason in a trade with Vancouver. But like Wolff, he requested a move, with a preference to go abroad.
“Jayden expressed a desire to make a move to Europe at this stage of his career, and his transfer to Bolton is a great outcome for both clubs as well as for Jayden,” Arnaud said. “We wish him nothing but the best for his time in England, and our leadership group felt that accepting this offer continues our efforts to strengthen the club’s position as we look to the future.”
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Austin FC retains sell-on clauses for both Wolff and Nelson, meaning if they are sold in the future, the Verde and Black get a small percentage of the amount.
Fodrey struggled to find playing time this season. Austin FC still has his rights and can recall him in January if it wants before the loan expires in June.
This article originally published at In blockbuster MLS move, Austin FC sells Owen Wolff for $7.6 million to Kansas City.
