The 10 most expensive MLS transfers of all time

The 10 most expensive MLS transfers of all time 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, sources lists the 10 most expensive arrivals in MLS history... 10. German Berterame - €12.6m (Monterrey to Inter Miami, 2026) MESSI ➡️ GERMAN 🤝🔥 pic.twitter.com/eH95XwvdrD — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 8, 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) Thiago Almada! Pure brilliance! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CjzAmDcRYb — Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 20, 2024 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) Denkey with a dinger on the back post! pic.twitter.com/A4bM3PyHEd — FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) April 26, 2026 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 ce