Some huge names have graced Major League Soccer since it was founded in 1995 including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry and Andrea Pirlo. But who are the most expensive signings in MLS history and how have they performed?
Star names have gone to North America’s premier soccer league for years, often to see out the end of their careers. But many have moved on a free at the end of their contracts with European clubs, so few of the biggest stars actually feature in the top 10 most expensive acquisitions in the league’s history.
Instead, the list of big-money MLS signings is in large part a testament to clubs’ more recent ploy of snapping up hot young prospects and slightly older classy operators from South America.
But who are Major League Soccer’s most expensive arrivals (according to Transfermarkt) and how did they get on? We’ve taken a look.
=8. Michael Bradley
The all-action crown prince of US soccer and a 151-cap veteran of the USMNT, Bradley moved back to MLS in 2014 after eight years on European shores – including a thoroughly forgettable loan in the Premier League with Aston Villa.
He signed for Toronto FC for £8.18million after leaving Roma, for whom he had scored two goals in 46 appearances.
At Toronto, he has become a bona fide club legend, playing over 250 times and winning both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in 2017.
=8. Jermain Defoe
One of two Europeans on this list, Defoe moved to the same club in the same year as Bradley for exactly the same fee. But he enjoyed nowhere near the same level of success or longevity in Toronto, leaving after a single campaign.
Best known for his goalscoring exploits with Tottenham and West Ham, the east Londoner did manage 12 goals in 21 games for the Canadian side, but was troubled by injuries and was heavily criticised.
While Defoe was out injured in the 2014 season, Toronto FC president Tim Leiweke said: “I personally don’t think Defoe will come back. If he doesn’t want to be here, you get rid of him. If you don’t want to be here, get the hell out of our way.”
Unsurprisingly, that’s exactly what he did, moving to Sunderland in January 2015.
READ: When Jermain Defoe scored five goals that cost him a grand apiece
=8. Brian Fernandez
A sad one, this. Argentine forward Fernandez was signed by Portland Timbers in May 2019 for the same fee as Bradley and Defoe after a cracking Liga MX season with Necaxa.
He then hit eight goals in his first nine MLS games, but by…
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