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Top 10 Most Expensive Transfers in MLS History
MLS clubs have shelled out record transfer fees in recent years to bring further attention to the growing North American league.
On the surface, many might think MLS is just a league for former European stars looking for a hefty payday. While some MLS teams still lean on signing big name players, many clubs have shifted their transfer policies to to sign younger players with more upside and re-sale value from South America while others look to sign star players from outside of the top five European leagues.
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Atlanta United is no stranger to this, as it has broke its record transfer fee three times with the signings of Argentine playmakers Esequiel Barco (2018), Gonzalo 'Pity' Martínez and Thiago Almada (2022). FC Cincinnati has swung big in the transfer market with the most expensive fee in league history to secure the signing of striker Kévin Denkey from the Belgian Pro League, a true sign of ambition by the team's front office.
In fact, Atlanta and Cincinnati together account for the top six transfers in MLS history. Fellow Eastern Conference clubs Chicago Fire and Inter Miami crack the top 10 with their respective signings of Hugo Cuypers and Rodolfo Pizarro.
LAFC and San Diego FC—who begins play in 2025—both feature in the top 10. LAFC tried to go down the South American transfer route with the Brian Rodríguez signing in 2019 while former Napoli star Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano is set to join San Diego for its inaugural 2025 MLS season.
Here are the top 10 mot expensive transfers in MLS history.
Top 10 Most Expensive Transfers in MLS History
Player | Transfer Fee | Year | MLS Team Joined | Previous Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kévin Denkey | $16.2m | 2024 | FC Cincinnati | Cercle Brugge (Belgium) |
Thiago Almada | $16m | 2022 | Atlanta United | Vélez Sarsfield (Argentina) |
Gonzalo 'Pity' Martínez | $15.5m | 2019 | Atlanta United | River Plate (Argentina) |
Ezequiel Barco | $13m | 2018 | Atlanta United | Independiente (Argentina) |
Brenner | $12.6m | 2021 | FC Cincinnati | São Paulo (Brazil) |
Luiz Araujo | $12.3m | 2021 | Atlanta United | Lille (France) |
Hugo Cuypers | $12m | 2024 | Chicago Fire | Gent (Belgium) |
Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano | $12m | 2025 | San Diego FC | PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) |
Rodolfo Pizarro | $11.9m | 2020 | Inter Miami | Monterrey (Mexico) |
Brian Rodríguez | $11.4m | 2019 | LAFC | Club Atletico Penarol (Uruguay) |
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Braden Chalker is a freelance writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. men's national team.