September 10: Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs spent a record $370 million on transfer fees in 2026, while generating a record $218 million from player sales.
The spending figure is up from $336 million last year and has more than doubled from the $172 million figure for 2023. Some of that money has gone to household names. Thirty players with World Cup experience joined MLS this year, including 20 who participated in the 2026 tournament.
Josh Sargent moved to Toronto FC, Breel Embolo joined Atlanta United and Germán Berterame signed for Inter Miami, while Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski and Casemiro were among the headline free agent arrivals.
But MLS also spends differently than the assumption that has followed them for years.
The average age of international signings this year was 25.45, with 48 players aged 21 or under, compared to just 24 aged 30 or over. One in five incoming players also had UEFA Champions League experience.
This gives a slightly different picture of the league than the one that has followed it since its inception. Big-name veterans are still arriving in droves, but now they’re joined by players in their prime or younger talents who may still have significant resale value.
Eight clubs broke their own transfer records in 2026, led by Toronto with Sargent, Sporting Kansas City with André Luiz and Inter Miami with Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul, who is close friends with Lionel Messi.
Statistics show that throughout the year, MLS clubs completed 186 international signings from 51 countries and 47 different leagues. Brazil contributed the most players with 16, followed by Argentina and Mexico with 14 each.
The other side of the market is starting to catch up. MLS clubs brought in a record $218 million in transfers, up from $202 million in 2025 and just $60 million five years ago.
Seven clubs received record player fees during the year, while 15 players developed through MLS academies and MLS NEXT Pro were sold for multi-million dollar sums, generating more than $65 million in total.
Among them, Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo moved to Crystal Palace, Colorado Rapids sold Lucas Herrington to Hull City and San Diego FC’s Luca Bombino joined Stoke City.
MLS has spent years trying to shake the notion that it’s simply a destination for aging stars. Those names still matter commercially, but the numbers now show a much wider transfer model taking shape: one based on younger arrivals, academy development and selling players for serious money.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at harry.ewing@insideworldfootball.com
