The transfer of players from the top North American soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS), to Europe has doubled in the last five years. In the 2019/20 season, for example, 38 players left the United States for the continent; in the current 2024/25 season, so far 77 players have been transferred. In the 2023/24 season, 64 players left MLS to play in European soccer, reflecting the clear growth of recent years.
In the current season, the leagues that signed the most players from the United States were England (14), Denmark (10), Serbia (6), Spain, Poland and Belgium (4 each), and Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Sweden (3 each).
Five years ago, in the 2019/20 season, England already led the way in MLS signings, with five in total, followed by Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland (three each).
“The number of players leaving MLS and going to Europe is related to a very well planned scouting job for their clubs, and a training routine that focuses on athleticism, developing athletes not only in their strength, but also in their agility and flexibility. They are clubs that sought young talent in the rest of the continent, and worked very well with them,” says Thiago Freitas, COO of Roc Nation Sports in Brazil, a North American entertainment company.
Also present in Brazil
This peculiarity, in fact, is not confined to the European continent. In Brazil, for example, these figures have doubled; they have multiplied, jumping from two MLS signings in 2019/20 to 16 in the current 2024/25 season.
Some clubs, such as Cuiaba, managed to bring in players from the North American League at zero cost, such as attacking midfielder Yamil Asad (Cincinnati FC) and defender Nathan Cardoso (Seattle Sounders), formerly of Palmeiras, as well as striker Max Alves (Colorado Rapids), while Santos brought in attacking midfielder Alvaro Barreal from FC Cincinnati on loan until the end of the current season.
“The level of MLS has grown a lot, and this has to do with the signings that the clubs have made there, mostly young athletes. They have made signings in other countries as bets, and then the big clubs pay high prices to bring them back,” says Cuiaba president Cristiano Dresch
The level of MLS has grown a lot, and this has to do with the signings that the clubs have made
“I understand that MLS franchises have adopted means and methods to make it even more competitive. This strategy is also reflected in the prospecting and development of young talent from various countries. The exposure of the league and the ability to invest have always been hallmarks of MLS, a fact that connects with the presence of Lionel Messi in the place. A country that has always been recognized for hiring more experienced players in the final stage of their careers, today is also seen for its new positioning in the market,” says Santos CEO Pedro Martins.
“Buying markets, such as the current Brazil, need to have the United States as a focus of analysis and prospection for the acquisition of players. There is no way to neglect the scouting and development work that is being done in this country.”
Buying traders need to focus their analysis on the United States
For the experts, this new dynamic of importing sportsmen from MLS by Brazilian clubs could indicate an improvement in the competitive level of the US league, which in addition to having names such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets – stars of Inter Miami – has also attracted young South American talents such as Brazilian Gabriel Pec, formerly of Vasco and now at Los Angeles Galaxy, and Argentine Federico Redondo, formerly of Argentinos Juniors and currently at Inter Miami.
The ‘Lionel Messi’ effect in MLS
As a result, the North American league has also benefited off the field, even with the arrival of Messi to Inter Miami. Since the Argentine arrived in the country in 2023, MLS was the fastest growing North American sports league, with revenues 18% higher than the previous year, according to a study by SponsorUnited
This factor is also reflected in the greater visibility of the league and North American clubs in the world, especially in Latin America, including initiatives such as The Messi Experience, an interactive journey about the Argentine’s career, produced by Primo Entertainment, Moment Factory, with local production in Brazil by Dançar Marketing, from April this year, after also visiting Buenos Aires in Argentina and, in the United States, Miami.
With several themed installations, the exhibition portrays the life and career of the Argentine star, with an approximate duration of 75 minutes, where fans will be able to interact with the star through artificial intelligence and get in touch with Messi’s journey, from his beginnings in Rosario to the world title with Argentina
“The signings of young talents in MLS in recent years have caused the opposite movement, with those same players, after one or two seasons, attracting the interest of clubs from the big leagues. Coinciding with this is the Messi period, which also caused an even greater showcase for North American soccer at that time,” adds Claudio Fiorito, general manager of P&P Sport Management Brazil, which specializes in managing the careers of sportsmen and women, including defender Vitor Reis.
The value of the transfers was:
19/20 – €17.5m
23/24 – 48.5 million euros
24/25 – €81m
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