Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Los Angeles Galaxy.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Major League Soccer | 31 | 0 | 1 | 2050 | 6.66 |
 CONCACAF Champions League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 6.9 |
 Leagues Cup | 5 | 0 | 1 | 105 | 6.9 |
Scout report
J. Nelson is a 28-year-old full-back at Los Angeles Galaxy, rated 29.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 314th of 513 on scout potential in the Major League Soccer. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter this season (67% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.94 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nelson.
Judged on this season alone, Nelson graded 13 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 75th of 101 of the 101 full-backs in the Major League Soccer, on 2 clean sheets and 2.941 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 13 → 13). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 29, 62nd of 101 of the 101 full-backs in the Major League Soccer. At 28 Nelson is in his prime years, and a market index of 3.3 reflects that trajectory.
Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Los Angeles Galaxy finished 14th of 15 · a relegation-threatened side
2.94 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (14th of 15) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 67% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Watch points
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 29.3, Nelson carries the 62nd-highest potential of the full-backs in the Major League Soccer of 101, and he is posting that for a relegation-threatened side (Los Angeles Galaxy finished 14th of 15) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.94 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among full-backs in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Possession
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
