MLS clubs smash record for transfer spend in a single season

Martin Macdonald

• 29 Aug 2025 16:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Analysis

The Major League Soccer transfer window closed recently and it was officially a record-breaking season for teams in the division in terms of spending.

In total, MLS clubs spent $336 million on transfers in 2025 which eclipses the previous record from 2024 in which $188m was spent.

A major reason for this exorbitant spending is that the division record for the most expensive player acquisition was broken on no less than three occasions.

On 1 January, FC Cincinnati broke the MLS transfer record to sign striker Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge $16.3 million but that was subsequently surpassed by Atlanta United who spent $22 million to sign Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough.

MLS clubs — EASILY — spent more money on transfer fees during the 2025 season (winter + summer windows) than ever before.

$336m in total fees, with the league-record fee being broken three times this year. pic.twitter.com/ygm05KHRM5

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 29, 2025

It would be broken for the third time in a year as Los Angeles FC secured one of the biggest names in world football, Heung-min Son, from Tottenham for a fee of $26 million.

At the moment, MLS is the eighth highest-spending league in the world.

In the last two seasons alone, half of the teams in MLS have broken their transfer record.

Previously, transfers between MLS clubs were prohibeted from being cash-only as other factors had to be included in the deal such as draft picks, international roster spots and team salary contributions. However, that rule was scrapped and MLS clubs can now purchase from each other akin to the international transfer market.

That rule being gone is responsible for $40 million worth of transfers in 2025.