The Pitch: Highlights of the 2024 Primary Transfer Window

Courtois’ Columbus Homecoming: First-year CF Montréal head coach Laurent Courtois returns home this weekend to face former colleague Wilfried Nancy, who was formerly Montréal’s head coach between 2021-2022, the Columbus Crew, where Courtois had previously coached since 2019.and the side he lifted 2023 MLS Cup with.

The 2024 Primary Transfer Window closes tonight (Tuesday, April 23) at 11:59 CT and teams across Major League Soccer are already reaping the benefits of players added during this key acquisition period on the league’s calendar.

Among those players who arrived in MLS during the early transfer window include:

Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF): Suárez (six goals, four assists) has been a force for Miami and is one of only three MLS players with 10 goal contributions through Matchday 10, joining teammate Lionel Messi (13) and Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango (14).

Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy): Paintsil has been otherworldly for a Galaxy squad that sits atop the Western Conference with 18 points (5-1-3) through nine games. Behind that strong start has been the speedy Ghanaian forward, who has four goals and four assists while helping the club rank second in MLS in scoring (21 goals).

Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls): The New York Red Bulls have received standout performances from several players thus far in 2024, with the play of club captain Forsberg has being the catalyst for the team’s attack. The Swedish midfielder has two goals and two assists in seven matches and leads the team with 14 key passes, while helping guide the Red Bulls to 16 points (4-1-4) and a second-place seat in the East.

Djordje Mihailovic and Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids): The duo of Mihailovic and Steffen have helped a Rapids squad get off to a strong start (15 points, 4-2-3) in 2024 after finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference table in 2023. (See below for more on the Rapids’ recent unbeaten run). The Secondary Transfer Window opens on Thursday, July 18 and runs through Wednesday, August 14. A major opportunity for clubs to reinforce their squads, the Secondary Transfer Window has seen the likes of Lionel Messi (MIA), Sergio Busquets (MIA), Cucho Hernández (CLB), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy), and Lorenzo Insigne (TOR) enter the league across the last two seasons.

Kirk Cousins gets Atlanta United’s crowd on their feet as he hammers the Golden Spike during their pre-game ritual.

Usher visited his…