The Red Bulls appear close to bringing American winger Cade Cowell back to the U.S. from Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara, according to several reports.
The transfer involves a one-year loan for 22-year-old Cowell to the Red Bulls, with an option to purchase after the loan period ends. Soccer journalist Cesar Luis Merlo noted these developments on Wednesday.
Cowell’s return follows a rather lackluster time in Guadalajara during the 2025 season, where he struggled to find playing time and was unable to make a significant impact.
In his first year with Chivas, he was named Liga MX’s Player of the Month in July 2024, but this season, he has only started four games for the Mexican club.
He joined Chivas in 2024, playing a total of 68 matches, scoring 11 goals and tallying four assists.
Chivas reportedly agreed to a $4 million transfer deal with the San Jose Earthquakes to secure Cowell.
The move to New York seems promising for Cowell as he attempts to regain the form that attracted interest from Liga MX teams in the first place.
Before joining Chivas, Cowell made 114 appearances for the Earthquakes, scoring 12 goals and assisting another 12. He also holds 11 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team, with his latest appearance in November 2024.
This acquisition marks the first significant roster change for the Red Bulls this offseason and the initial move for Julian de Guzman, the new head of athletics who took over in late October.
De Guzman, in his first press conference since assuming the role, indicated that the club aims to bolster its lineup around existing talents like Emil Forsberg, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and Lewis Morgan.
There’s also the pressing matter of selecting a new head coach for the Red Bulls, with expectations that a decision will be made soon.
Reports from earlier this week indicate that Michael Bradley is the “clear frontrunner” for this position. He was promoted from coaching the Red Bulls’ developmental team, RBNY II, where he led the squad to a championship this past fall. Bradley’s history with the Red Bulls is notable; he began his playing career there when they were known as the MetroStars and is regarded as one of the top players in U.S. Men’s National Team history.
