MLS Clubs Reached New Heights by Spending Over $336 Million on Transfers
- adriana
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Major League Soccer (MLS) broke the transfer market record in 2025. They spent around $336 million on transfers, which was double the money spent in 2024. MLS became the eighth-highest spending league worldwide. No wonder its reputation as a major player in the global football transfer market is constantly growing.
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Increased Transfer Spendings and Breaking Records
The 2025 figure represents a 75% year-over-year increase, leaving no doubt about MLS’s growing financial clout. The growth of spending also highlights the league’s ambitious efforts to attract international talent and elevate its competitive profile. MLS’s secondary transfer window was open until the final day. Big-name signings and record-breaking fees popped up in the headlines all the time. LAFC, Atlanta United, and FC Cincinnati are shattering the league’s single-transfer fee record within eight months. With a strengthened lineup, bookmakers like GGBet have high expectations from these clubs in the new season.
The first major splash came early in the year when FC Cincinnati signed Kévin Denkey from Cercle Brugge for $16.3 million. The previous mark was set by Atlanta United’s purchase of Thiago Almada for $16 million. Atlanta then raised the bar again by securing Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough for $22 million.
The biggest headline arrived earlier this month when LAFC signed South Korean superstar Son Heung-Min from Tottenham Hotspur for $26.5 million. Son’s arrival broke the MLS transfer record and became one of the most high-profile signings in league history.
New Transfer System and Club-Record Deals
MLS reported that nearly half of its clubs have made a record signing in the last two years. The Colorado Rapids spent $8 million to bring in U.S. international Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt, demonstrating the club’s long-term ambitions. Toronto FC acquired Djordje Mihailović in a deal worth $8 million, with potential bonuses and a sell-on clause. Mihailović is expected to be the central element of Toronto’s rebuild.
MLS’s upgraded internal transfer system was implemented in 2025. Local clubs used to exchange players for available budgets, draft picks, and other assets. Now, teams can use unlimited cash to acquire players across the national league, which complies with global transfer standards. The new mechanism has already generated over $40 million after selling 11 players.
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Global Recruitment on the Rise
MLS’s record result has restructured the domestic market and also strengthened its international presence. In 2025, MLS clubs signed 169 international players from 50 countries, including Brazil (11 players), Argentina (10), England (8), and Portugal (8). MLS clubs keep an eye on the national leagues, which promise to be the most common sources of new talent.
The growing transfer of foreign players reflects Don Garber’s long-stated vision of MLS as a globally respected league. The age of new players indicates that MLS clubs focus on young talents who have high resale value and a significant on-field impact. The record-breaking year has serious implications for the league’s future. Local clubs are setting their own transfer records by selling seven players to foreign clubs for at least $10 million. With that said, MLS has become both a significant buyer and seller on the international stage. Fans and specialists are watching the market situation to catch the possible consequences of such transfer politics.