In the last January transfer window, 33 players left Major League Soccer for Europe. Top European clubs are increasingly looking to US soccer in search of stars who, thanks to the American season finishing in December, are primed to hit the ground running upon arrival.
And after a season that drew more transatlantic attention than ever before thanks to Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami, several MLS stars will have caught the eye of Europe’s elite.
It was something of a surprise when Almada landed in MLS in December 2021, rather than electing for a move to a European giant. The Argentinian attacking midfielder became the most expensive signing in the history of the US top division when he joined Atlanta United from Vélez Sarsfield in a deal worth $16m.
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But Almada, who was a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has made no secret of his desire for an eventual switch to Europe. “I want to finish the season first and then think about the future,” he said in November. “In January I will look at what my options are. It’s my dream to play in Europe and I hope it comes true.”
Ajax were reportedly close to signing the 22-year-old last summer, and after another impressive season – he scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in the 2023 MLS season, adding to the six goals and seven assists of his debut campaign – European interest in Almada will only have strengthened. His finished the latest MLS season in the 99th percentile in shot-creating actions, progressive passes, successful take-ons, shots, passes, assists and expected assists, making him the most sought-after January prize on the US market.
European clubs in search of a proven goal-scorer capable of making a quick impact will find an ideal candidate in Los Angeles FC’s Bouanga.
The France-born Gabon international spent most of his career in the French top flight – encompassing spells with Lorient, Nîmes and Saint-Étienne – before making a $5m move stateside in the summer of 2022. The Gabonese striker, who turned 29 in November, has been in the best form of his career for LA this past season. His return of 20 goals in 31 games for the MLS Cup runners-up saw him pick up the league’s Golden Boot.
Despite his success in the US, reports in France suggest Bouanga is keen to return to Europe this winter for “family reasons”, with interest from clubs in Ligue 1, La…