The 10 most expensive MLS transfers of all time

Updated: 9 Sept 2026 21:11 BST |
6 min read

Make us your Google favourite

MLS has grown in stature since the 2000s, with plenty of big names plying their trade in the top division of American soccer.

Some ageing superstars have made their way stateside at the tail-end of their careers, but young, talented players have increasingly joined MLS on the way up instead.

The likes of Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard all tried their hand at MLS, and their presence helped the league develop. MLS clubs have also looked to South America to boost the overall quality of the league.

Below, FootballTransfers lists the 10 most expensive arrivals in MLS history…

10. German Berterame – €12.6m (Monterrey to Inter Miami, 2026)

Inter Miami re-signed legendary striker Luis Suarez to a new contract in late 2025, but they still felt that they needed a younger option, so they splashed €12.6m on Rayados star German Berterame.

The Mexico international had a prolific track record for Monterrey and San Luis in Liga MX and had been a transfer target for MLS clubs for years. The Portland Timbers and FC Cincinnati were both previously close to signing him.

9. Pity Martinez – €14.5m (River Plate to Atlanta United, 2019)

Pity Martinez joined Atlanta United from River Plate in 2019, but he was a hugely underwhelming signing despite having two senior Argentina caps to his name when he joined.

He never quite settled in Georgia and left again after 18 months, joining Saudi side Al-Nassr for around €16m, meaning that the Five Stripes actually turned a profit on him. He later returned to River Plate.

8. Thiago Almada – €14.5m (Velez Sarsfield to Atlanta United, 2022)

When Thiago Almada snubbed European interest in February 2022 to hook up with Atlanta United, he became the most expensive player in MLS history. An attacking midfielder or winger, the highly-rated youngster scored 26 goals and provided 24 assists in 83 games for Atlanta.

He was also part of Argentina’s victorious World Cup squad in 2022, although he only featured for six minutes in Qatar as Lionel Messi and Co. went on to lift the trophy.

He was sold to Botafogo for an MLS-record €24.2m in 2024 and has also since played for Lyon, Atletico Madrid and River Plate. Bizarrely, Atlanta have yet to actually receive a single penny of that fee due to Botafogo’s financial issues.

7. Rodrigo de Paul – €15m (Atletico Madrid to Inter Miami, 2026)

Lionel Messi’s “bodyguard” Rodrigo de Paul followed his compatriot to Inter Miami in 2025, but the Herons had to resort to some transfer shenanigans to be able to sign him.

Due to not having a spare Designated Player spot, they initially loaned him from Atletico Madrid for half a season, but everyone knew that they had effectively signed him permanently. They formally triggered his €15m purchase option in 2026.

6. Kevin Denkey – €15.3m (Cercle Brugge to Cincinnati, 2025)

Cincinnati very briefly held the MLS transfer record when they signed Togo international striker Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge for €15.3m.

A bustling striker who netted 10 times in 17 matches in Belgium’s top-flight, he started well in MLS, but it soon became clear that he did not see entirely eye-to-eye with Cincinnati’s other marquee player, Evander.

Despite the friction, Cincinnati rebuffed offers for Denkey in the 2026 summer window and kept the faith in the forward, who is roughly scoring at a rate of a goal every other game for the Ohio franchise.

5. Andre Luiz – €15.5m (Olympiacos to Sporting KC, 2026)

On course for a historically bad season, Sporting KC planned to acquire several huge reinforcements in the summer of 2026. However, they ultimately only managed to bring Andre Luiz from Olympiacos.

The €15.5m fee looked like a significant overpay as the Brazilian winger had struggled during his six months in Greece, but Sporting are banking on him recapturing the impressive form he had displayed at Rio Ave in Portugal prior to his move to Olympiacos.

4. Breel Embolo – €15.5m (Stade Rennais to Atlanta United, 2026)

Heading into the 2026 summer window, Atlanta were in desperate need of a reliable centre-forward and targeted several ambitious signings. After being rejected by Romelu Lukaku and Darwin Nunez, they struck a €15.5m deal with Stade Rennais for Breel Embolo.

A long-time Switzerland international and major tournament cult hero, Embolo left Rennes after just one season, having scored a respectable 10 goals in 34 appearances. He made an instant impact for Atlanta, converting a penalty on his debut.

3. Josh Sargent – €18.7m (Norwich City to Toronto FC, 2026)

USMNT striker Josh Sargent traded Norwich City in the Championship for Toronto FC after a messy transfer saga shortly after the start of the 2026 season.

Norwich insisted that they did not want to sell the American, but this was clearly just posturing to get more money out of TFC, who duly obliged and coughed up €18.7m. Add-ons could make Sargent the most expensive MLS signing ever.

2. Emmanuel Latte Lath – €21.3m (Middlesbrough to Atlanta, 2025)

Atlanta smashed the MLS transfer record to sign centre-forward Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough in a deal that breached the €20m mark in North American soccer for the very first time in early 2025.

The Ivory Coast international was prolific in the Championship before his move to the US but was relatively untested at the highest level at the time of his move, despite being 26.

He spent much of his early career on loan in Italy’s lower leagues from Atalanta and made his big break with St Gallen in Switzerland. A spell of 18 months with Boro saw him net 27 league goals and tempted Atlanta to make their move.

However, his lack of a top-level track record was brutally exposed in MLS, with Latte Lath failing to live up to his price tag. He was axed in the summer of 2026 and replaced with the aforementioned Embolo.

1. Son Heung-min – €22m (Tottenham to Los Angeles FC, 2025)

Tottenham legend Son Heung-min is the most expensive player in MLS history, joining LAFC for €22m in 2025 after leading Spurs to the Europa League – their first trophy in almost two decades.

At his peak, he was one of the best wingers in Europe, though he did show signs of decline towards the end of his spell in North London. He was given a new lease on life in MLS, forming an unstoppable partnership with Denis Bouanga.

Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.

View full bio