Six Vermont Green FC players were selected in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Enzo Dovlo, Niklas Herceg, Ayoub Lajhar, Stephane Njike, Jahiem Wickham, and Maximilian Kissel were all claimed by MLS clubs.
During the MLS SuperDraft, the league’s 30 teams selected 90 total players.
The first of the Vermont Green Invincibles to hear his name called was Enzo Dovlo, who was selected with the 12th pick in the first round by Atlanta United FC.
Four picks later, Niklas Herceg, the legendary national champion goalkeeper for Vermont Green and the University of Vermont, was selected 16th by FC Dallas.
In the second round, FC Cincinnati selected Brattleboro High School and Vermont Academy graduate Ayoub Lajhar with the 55th pick. The Vermonter—who played for the Green in 2024 and 2025—was FC Cincinnati’s sole selection in the draft.
In the third round, winger Stephane Njike was selected by DC United with the 61st pick and goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham was selected by Charlotte FC with the 82nd pick.
Finally, Vermont’s Maximilian Kissel was selected with the 90th and final pick by Inter Miami CF, Major League Soccer’s recently crowned champions. Kissel will head to Miami to earn his place in a star-studded team that features global superstars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The club is owned by David Beckham.
The draftees who still have NCAA eligibility—Herceg and Lajhar—now have their MLS rights claimed by FC Dallas and FC Cincinnati respectively. Those rights will remain with the MLS clubs even if they opt to return to their universities or to Vermont Green FC in 2026.
“We’re incredibly proud of all of our guys that were selected in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft” said Vermont Green FC Sporting Director Adam Pfeifer. “It was clear to us early in our national championship season that we had a really special group, so it’s no surprise so many of our guys had their names called. This is a testament to the growth of the club and the environment we want to keep building—one that prioritizes player development and that helps top players spring themselves into the professional game. We wish them all the best of luck at the start of a new chapter in their careers.”
- Enzo Dovlo – Round 1, Pick 12 – Atlanta United FC
- Niklas Herceg – Round 1, Pick 16 – FC Dallas
- Ayoub Lajhar – Round 2, Pick 55 – FC Cincinnati
- Stephane Njike – Round 3, Pick 61 – DC United
- Jahiem Wickham – Round 3, Pick 82 – Charlotte FC
- Maximilian Kissel – Round 3, Pick 90 – Inter Miami CF
Congratulations, boys! Once a Green, always a Green!