ratings updated 20 Aug 2026
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 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 859 | 6.38 |
 CONCACAF Champions League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 432 | 6.9 |
Scout report
J. Nelson is a 28-year-old central defender at Los Angeles Galaxy, rated 29.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 292nd of 436 on scout potential in the Major League Soccer. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter this season (60.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.31 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 12 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 82nd of 101 of the 101 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer, on 2 clean sheets and 2.313 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 13 → 12). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 29, 63rd of 101 of the 101 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer. At 28 Nelson is in his prime years, and a market index of 3.3 reflects that trajectory.
Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.
Output in context · Los Angeles Galaxy finished 12th of 15 · a lower-table side
2.31 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 20 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (12th 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.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 60.9% 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 63rd-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Major League Soccer of 101, and he is posting that for a lower-table side (Los Angeles Galaxy finished 12th 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 (2.31 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 centre-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.
