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It's not the news fans wanted to hear at the first press conference of the year and season. Certainly, no one expected this.
Hirving "Chucky" Lozano will not be a part of San Diego FC in 2026. Sporting director Tyler Heaps addressed the media on a warm, sunny afternoon at the Sharp Healthcare training facility.
"We've had a lot of conversations with him (Lozano) and his representatives leading into the break as well as last season. We have communicated to Hirving and his representatives that he will not be a part of the sporting plans moving forward." Heaps said.
What Happened?
Lozano was subbed off at halftime during San Diego FC’s match against the Houston Dynamo on October 4, 2025, and the decision quickly led to tension behind the scenes.
Frustrated by the substitution, Lozano reportedly had a heated verbal exchange with head coach Mikey Varas in the locker room. The incident became a major talking point, eventually leading to disciplinary action and Lozano being left out of subsequent matchday squads as the club handled the situation internally.
For the remainder of the season, Lozano became a bench piece for the team. Clearly, relations between player and the coaching staff were harmed and led to a situation where the front office did not see a future partnership.
Current Situation
In a somewhat awkward scenario – Lozano is still practicing at the facility, only without the rest of the team. As he is currently an official SDFC player, he has the right to do so.
Lozano's current contract expires in 2028 with club options for '29 and '30. He's currently making $7.6 million per year. Clearly, that is a lot of money that will be freed up for the club – an opportunity for SDFC to spend big on a replacement Designated Player.
When asked whether or not the club is looking to sell or loan Lozano, Heaps was not opposed to either option but did indicate he preferred one over the other. "At the moment we're open to anything. I believe a sale is best for both parties."
Mikey Varas echoed Heaps' message when he was asked to speak on the Chucky situation.
"Our focus is on the collective. It's about pushing the chemistry this year and listen, we've played plenty of games with the team, without him in the roster and that team played very, very well." Varas said when addressing the media.
Moving Forward Without Lozano
If there was ever a time for a breakup, this was probably the best time. The European January transfer window is well underway and surely SDFC have been in talks with multiple clubs as they look for a replacement DP. If you're asking who could SDFC possibly be looking at, the answer is not so easy. With multiple talent scouts throughout Europe and the Americas – there's no telling at what the front office is up to. For fans, it's wait and see.
Lewis Morgan joined the team in December and will get a good chance at the starting center forward position. Meanwhile, Amahl Pellegrino showed that he can be a real threat playing in the left winger position. Pellegrino enjoyed a great amount of success in the 2025 season and will look to build on the chemistry he established.
Marcus Ingvartsen will battle it out with Morgan for the CF starting spot as he is coming back healthy after recovering from an injury that kept him out most of the year in 2025. Alex Mighten also made a case for a starting spot in the attack last year. The speedster showed how dangerous he could be and will look to prove himself in 2026.
All of this points to a simple reality: San Diego FC is deep, flexible, and well-stocked in attack, and the front office will keep pushing to make the squad even stronger ahead of the 2026 season. No matter the name on the back of the jersey, the message is clear—no player is bigger than the badge.
