MLS clubs shattered the league's transfer expenditure record in 2025, spending approximately $336 million on player acquisitions.
The MLS-record incoming transfer figure was broken three times, and more than $40 million was spent on newly implemented 'cash for player' trades.
Record investment
Year over year, MLS clubs combined for a 75% increase in transfer spending:
2025 – $336 million (approximate)
2024 – $188 million
2023 – $172 million
2022 – $163 million
2021 – $170 million
2020 – $145 million
2019 – $103 million
MLS clubs broke the league record transfer three times in 2025, led by LAFC forward Son Heung-Min (reported $26.5 million) arriving from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
Before Son, Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (reported $22 million) and