€120m and counting - Major League Soccer sets new Primary Window transfer record
Although the Major League Soccer Primary Transfer window remains open until April 23, most clubs have concluded the bulk of their transfer activity at this point. According to MLSSoccer.com, the league has seen the arrival of 84 new players from around the world. A look in the Transfermarkt database, in fact, highlights that MLS has broken a winter transfer record set in 2022 when the league spent €120.3m ($130.5m).
Almada, Musa and Co.: Major League Soccer record transfers
The Transfermarkt database further indicates that by Feb. 27, the 29 MLS teams have seen 332 players depart the club for a total transfer fee of €31.32 million ($34m) and 295 new arrivals for a total transfer fee of €120.9m ($131.16m). Those numbers stand in contrast with the numbers published by MLSSoccer.com because they constitute all player movements, including players returning from their loans, drafted players, or players moved between the parent club and the respective MLS Next Pro sides. Either way, with the window still open, MLS has now set a record for transfer fees paid in the primary window.
How do those numbers compare with other leagues in around the world? With €120.9m paid in transfer fees this winter, MLS ranks fourth ahead of three of Europe’s top four leagues the Serie A (€107.8m), Bundesliga (€96.5m), LaLiga (€92.3m), and just behind the Premier League (€128.4m). Indeed, regarding net balance in transfer spending, only France’s Ligue 1 (-€95.3m) has invested more than MLS (-€89.5m). The caveat is that the winter window is the primary transfer window for MLS and that clubs could conduct business even after the window is closed in most of Europe’s top leagues. But even then, the money spent is impressive, especially compared to last season when the league paid just €89.6m ($97.2m) in transfer fees on new players (overview).
Cuypers, Musa, Pec & Co.: MLS clubs break transfer records
With those numbers in mind, it isn’t surprising that several MLS clubs broke their transfer records this winter. The Chicago Fire paid a club record €12m ($13m) for Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers. That deal made Cuypers not only the most expensive signing in Chicago Fire history but also the fourth most expensive player in MLS history (overview). The 27-year-old debuted against the Philadelphia Union on matchday 1, and while Cuypers didn’t score, expectations are that the striker will lead the line for the Fire this season.
Cuypers isn’t the only club record signing to debut on matchday 1. The Los Angeles Galaxy have signed two players who were more expensive than their previous record signing, Chicharito. Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec joined the Galaxy for €9.3m ($10m) from Vasco Da Gama, and Joseph Paintsil arrived for €8.5m ($9m) from Belgian club KRC Genk. Both featured in the Galaxy’s season opener against Inter Miami CF with Paintsil, in particular, highlighting that he could be a tremendous weapon for the club this season. The Fire and the Galaxy weren’t the only clubs to break their transfer records this winter, however. FC Dallas paid a club record €9m ($10m) to sign Croatian forward Petar Musa from Benfica.
LA Galaxy: Biggest signings in club history
Cuypers, Pec, Paintsil, and Musa are just one of many new arrivals from abroad. Other notable signings include Serbian wonderkid Jovan Mijatović (NYCFC), Argentine midfielders Federico Redondo (Inter Miami CF) and Pedro de la Vega (Seattle Sounders), Swedish national team player Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls), and Colombian forward Luis Muriel (Orlando City), just to name a few. Those new signings also indicate that there is now an increasing group of MLS club owners willing to spend more money on quality players that do not necessarily fit the retirement label. Indeed, MLS Commissioner Don Garber has indicated that MLS might change roster rules that could open the door for clubs to increase their spending. With that in mind, this winter’s transfer record is likely just a snapshot.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 7, 1997 (27)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Chicago Fire FC
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2026
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €11.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 11, 2001 (23)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2028
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €8.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 1, 1998 (26)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2027
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €9.50m