Chris Durkin Hoping to Finish 2025 Strong After Injury-Plagued Season
For St. Louis City SC midfielder Chris Durkin, the 2025 campaign has been a frustrating cycle of starts and stops.
Durkin missed preseason and the season opener while recovering from a knee injury suffered late in 2024. He managed to play five matches before re-injuring the knee in a collision against Austin, sidelining him for seven games. Three matches after returning, he overextended the knee on a long-range shot, forcing him to miss another seven games.
“Completely hit the reset button on that, which sucked,” Durkin said.
When he finally made it back onto the pitch, he lasted just 10 minutes before a red card halted his momentum again. With the suspension and a bye week, his return to the starting XI was delayed at least three more weeks.
“It feels like I’ve been playing catch up the whole year,” he admitted Tuesday.
If all goes well, Durkin should reclaim his spot in the lineup this Saturday when City SC visits the Chicago Fire. While he hasn’t appeared in an MLS match since July 26, he logged 45 minutes in a friendly against Aston Villa and 70 minutes with City2 on Sunday, giving him valuable minutes ahead of the final nine games.
“It’s been a turbulent season for me,” Durkin said. “I think it’s been the hardest season for me personally, in terms of just dealing with injuries, setbacks from those injuries. It’s been really tough. But I’d like to think now that I’m beyond all that stuff, and now I can really start to put my head down and get to work… That [red card] took a little bit of a hit on the confidence, for sure, but it’s all about how you respond from those moments.”
The 25-year-old is finally pain-free when striking the ball with his right foot and says his match fitness is improving.
Last season, Durkin was one of City SC’s most reliable players, going the full 90 minutes in 26 matches — second-most among field players. This year, he’s only done so twice in 10 appearances.
Reflecting on the red card, Durkin said it was especially frustrating because the team was already shorthanded, and he was filling in at center back. The foul on Minnesota’s Kelvin Yeboah in the penalty box led to a spot kick that tied the match and ultimately resulted in a loss.
“The ball went 10, 15 yards in the air… I’m looking at the ball, and he’s already in front of me. I just put my hand on his shoulder, and then he falls… Hat off to him.”
Amid the setbacks, Durkin has found joy off the field with the birth of his son, Ronan, in June.
“It’s been tough, but… I’ve been able to help support my wife and see our son grow… As much as my professional life has been frustrating, my personal life has had some really positive moments. But now I’m done with the quality Dad time. I’m ready to play soccer.”
Adding to the uncertainty, Durkin’s contract is up after the season, with the club holding an option.
“It’s an option year and I haven’t been able to prove myself much on the field this year, so it’s been tough… It’s not my decision. It’s out of my control… But I do believe that with the right mentality every day, proving yourself… that will speak. So that’s all I can do.”
Elsewhere for City SC: The MLS disciplinary committee fined Sangbin Jeong an undisclosed amount for an “inappropriate gesture” after his goal in the 66th minute — simulating shooting a weapon — a celebration the league has penalized in the past.
