Chris Durkin is ready to turn the page on 2025. Next week, CITY SC heads to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for a set of preseason friendlies against Red Bull New York and the USL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies, before the home opener against Charlotte on February 21.
For Durkin, this offseason has been a complete refresh following a year of starts and stops, injury setbacks, and coaching changes. A former US Youth National Team player, the 25-year-old is in a contract year and no longer occupies one of the club’s U22 roster spots, following the club’s decision to exercise his option for the 2026 season. That is another driving force in his preparation, which is already showing on the training pitch through the early days of new head coach Yoann Damet’s tenure.
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The midfielder has been dealt roadblock after roadblock over the past two seasons. Now, he’s ready to play. “I feel like myself again,” Durkin said after Tuesday’s preseason training session.
Day 2 of the preseason kicked off with the dreaded beep test, a grueling cardio test that measures players’ endurance at the start of the season. Durkin was among the last players standing as the final beep rang out. “It’s been two years since I really had that type of time for myself to get the things right that I needed to in terms of the strength of my legs and my knee,” Durkin said.
Following the 2025 season, Durkin knew he needed to take care in his rehab. He worked with Dr. Greg Young, CITY SC’s director of mental performance, to develop the mental tools needed to attack this new challenge. “I spent a lot of time with Dr. Young and the mental performance office, and it has helped a lot,” he said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be back here another year.”
The Virginia native has been invigorated in his return to St. Louis, with the club in the process of a refresh under Damet. The club has a renewed tactical approach, a refreshed formation, and a refreshed depth chart in the middle of the pitch. CITY SC recently added to its midfield talent by acquiring former Red Bull New York midfielder Daniel Edelman, who will compete for minutes alongside Edu Löwen and Marcel Hartel. The group will have to exert control on both sides of the ball.
As Durkin explained after practice, “[Damet] gave us a presentation a couple of days ago that was one of the most well thought-out tactical plans in a long time, not just about soccer but the people as well.”
Along with the rest of the CITY SC roster, Durkin is looking forward to helping the club improve. “It’s all about competing, and I’m a competitor,” he said. “Every single one of these guys in this group is a competitor. We’re hungry—we’re tired of all of the crap that’s happened over the past two years.”
Looking ahead, Durkin says success starts at Energizer Park: “We want to make home a fortress. I believe wholeheartedly in what we have here at the club. We’re ready to go.”
