The 10 most expensive MLS transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 14 Feb 2025 07:29 CST
• 6 min read

MLS has grown in stature since the 2000s, with plenty of seasoned professionals choosing to spend their final few years in the league, but who are the most expensive transfers into the American top flight?

Some big names have made their way to US soccer at the tail-end of their careers, but increasingly talented players have passed MLS on the way up instead.

The likes of David Beckham, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard all tried their hand at MLS, and their presence helped the league develop. Now, there are fewer older European players looking for one last payday, with a better quality of players coming through academies, or being scouted from South America.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive WSL transfers of all time

The USMNT is now filled with recognisable stars, such as AC Milan's Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, who is at Juventus.

But, who are MLS' 10 most expensive signings of all time?

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers of all time

10. Luiz Araujo - €11.5m (Lille to Atlanta United, 2021)

This was a surprising move as Luiz Araujo swapped France for the USA in 2021. Fresh from winning the Ligue 1 title with Lille, Araujo decided to leave despite making 28 appearances in Les Dogues' triumphant domestic campaign.

He joined Atlanta United, who had finished a disappointing 12th in 2020/21. After 13 goals and 11 assists in 63 matches, Araujo was sold to Flamengo for €9m in 2023.

9. Brenner - €11.8m (Sao Paulo to Cincinnati, 2021)

Brenner joined the MLS in February 2021 after a stellar season in Brazil. He had scored 11 goals and assisted three in 27 appearances for Sao Paulo, which prompted Cincinnati to fork out $13.4m to sign him.

After a slow start, he found his range in 2022, scoring 18 goals in 29 MLS games. In total, the Brazilian netted 27 goals in 73 Cincinnati appearances before joining Udinese in 2023.

8. Myrto Uzuni - €12m (Granada to Austin, 2025)

In a quest to generate some more attacking strength, Austin broke their club record on 31 January, 2025 to sign Albania international forward Uzuni, who enjoyed a spectacular start to the season in Spain.

Playing in LaLiga2, the 29-year-old scored 14 times in 18 outings and it is now up to him to continue that strike rate in MLS. This is his first club outside of Europe.

7. Aleksey Miranchuk - €12m (Atalanta to Atlanta, 2024)

Aleksey Miranchuk from Atalanta to Atlanta is a new entry on this list.

During the summer window, a total agreement was reached, with Gianluca Di Marzio being the first to break the story.

Miranchuk is now the fifth most expensive player in MLS history. The Russian has earned 45 caps for his home nation.

Last season, he recorded three goals and six assists in Italy, and it proved enough for the States club to sign the player.

6. Hirving Lozano - €12m (PSV to San Diego, 2025)

'Chucky' has been one of North America's greatest footballing superstars for years, and after nearly a decade spent plying his trade in Europe for Napoli and PSV, he returns to his home continent, not far from Mexico.

Some of his old magic appeared to have been lost as he battled with injury while playing for PSV, but that has not stopped San Diego from spending a club-record fee on the 29-year-old, who brings with him the expectation of excitement.

5. Esequiel Barco - €12.3m (Independiente to Atlanta United, 2018)

Signed for a significant sum from Argentina, big things were expected of Esequiel Barco at Atlanta United. However, he failed to really deliver.

In 107 appearances, he scored just 19 goals, while assisting 18. For the third-most expensive signing in the league's history, it wasn't quite good enough.

He joined River Plate on a permanent deal in early 2024 after a successful loan spell back in his homeland.

4. Pity Martinez - €14.5m (River Plate to Atlanta United, 2019)

Yet another Atlanta signing, Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez also joined from Argentina, like Barco.

With three Argentina caps to his name, he was clearly a good player, but only lasted 18 months in MLS. During that time he scored 11 goals and assisted 14 in 54 appearances, before being sold to Al-Nassr, joining a certain Cristiano Ronaldo at the club.

Atlanta did, however, turn a profit on him, selling Martinez for €16m.

3. Thiago Almada - €14.6m (Velez Sarsfield to Atlanta United, 2022)

When Argentina star Almada arrived in February 2022 to hook up with Atlanta United, he became the most expensive player in MLS history.

An attacking midfielder or winger, Almada 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 Almada only featured for six minutes in Qatar as Lionel Messi and Co. went on to lift the trophy.

He has since moved to Ligue 1 side Lyon on loan from Botafogo, who signed him for €19.5m.

2. Kevin Denkey - €15.3m (Cercle Brugge to Cincinnati, 2025)

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

A bustling striker who netted 10 times in 17 matches in Belgium's top-flight, he is under contract until the end of 2028 and will have to maintain this remarkable strike rate to justify his lofty price tag.

1. Emmanuel Latte Lath - €21.25m (Middlesbrough to Atlanta, 2025)

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

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

He spend much of his early career on loan in Italy's lower leagues from Atalanta but 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.

Current ETV

Emmanuel Latte Lath

F (C)

Atlanta United

Emmanuel Latte Lath

F (C)

Atlanta United

€11.1M

ETV Range

€10M - €12.2M

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The 10 most expensive MLS signings of all time