Houston Dynamo 2025 player report cards: Junior Urso

(image via Houston Dynamo FC)

We’re continuing our 2025 report card series, recapping each Houston Dynamo player’s season. Next up, we look at midfielder Junior Urso.

2025 Grade: C+

2025 by the numbers (MLS play)

Appearances: 19
Minutes played: 973
Goals: 1
Assists: 1

(image via FBref.com and FBcharts.com)

2025 in review

When the news broke that Houston Dynamo FC had signed Junior Urso for the 2025 season, with an option for 2026, President of Soccer Operations Pat Onstad said this about the veteran midfielder: “He brings valuable depth to our central midfield and will be a role model for our younger players.”

You could say that Junior Urso fulfilled exactly the role expected of him — no more, no less. A player with MLS experience and a strong competitive spirit, Urso’s main purpose was to help usher Brooklyn Raines into the starting role at defensive midfield and to provide reliable cover whenever Raines was unavailable due to international duty, injuries, suspensions, or rotation.

If this were school, Urso would earn a solid C — not outstanding, not poor, but steady and dependable, with occasional flashes of quality that reminded everyone why he was brought in.

Moment of the season

Ironically, Urso scored his only goal of the season in what was arguably one of his worst performances. His lone assist came just a week later, in a 4–2 season-ending defeat at home against San Diego FC.

However, just before those two matches, Urso delivered one of his best outings of the year — a home win over a tough Portland Timbers side. In that match, which Houston won thanks to a lone goal from Ponce, Urso played the full 90 minutes, completing a game-high 67 passes and contributing seven defensive actions to help secure the team’s final home clean sheet of the season.

Looking forward

At 36 years old, Urso’s contract option was not picked up by the club, bringing his time with Houston to an end. Given his age and an overall average season, it wasn’t surprising that the Dynamo chose to move on — likely in search of a similar player with Urso’s defensive qualities but a few years younger.

It’s tough to say goodbye, but at 36, that’s considered ancient in the soccer world — a harsh reminder of the sport’s unforgiving nature.