Transfers: record spending of nearly $336m (€288m) for MLS franchises in 2025

MLS franchises have spent a record total of approximately $336m (€288m) on transfers in 2025, announced the North American league on 28/08/2025. This is a 79% increase on 2024 ($188m) and 3.3 times the amount spent in 2019 ($103m).

The record for the most expensive transfer for a player joining the MLS was broken three times in 2025, with the signings of Son Heung-Min (KOR) to Los Angeles FC from Tottenham Hotspur FC (Premier League) for $26.5m, of Emmanuel Latte Lath (CIV) to Atlanta United FC from Middlesbrough FC (Sky Bet Championship) for $22m, and of Kévin Denkey (TOG) to FC Cincinnati from Cercle Brugge (Jupiler Pro League) for $16.3m.

Other key figures for the 2025 season include:
• nine clubs setting their outgoing transfer record;
• seven players transferred for at least $10m;
• 169 international signings made in 2025, with players from 50 different countries and aged 25.2 on average;
• Brazil (11), Argentina (10), England (8) and Portugal (8) among the most acquired from top-flight leagues.

MLS: 11 players transferred between franchises via the new “cash for player trade…