14 June 2023 , 15:15
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The reputation of MLS as a hotbed of talent is on the rise, with teams in Europe regularly dipping into the market to grab emerging talents at a reasonable price.
The current record sale for an MLS player stands at the $26 million fee Newcastle United paid Atlanta United for midfielder Miguel Almiron back in 2019. However, that record could be broken this summer if the Five Stripes eventually cash in on the highly-rated Thiago Almada.
The talented attacking midfielder has been in impressive form so far this season, notching a healthy six goals and eight assists in just 16 outings so far this term. This comes after the 22-year-old burst onto the scene in the US last season following his league record $16 million switch from Vélez Sarsfield.
It is likely that the young prospect was brought to wider global attention following his involvement in Argentina's World Cup winning squad of 2022. The diminutive ace having appeared once during the tournament as the team made history in Qatar, while also becoming the first ever MLS based world champion in the process.
All things considered, this would make the prodigy the league's hottest prospect, with his current form having piqued the interests of leading European sides such as Napoli, according to the Athletic. They report that Atlanta United will want to keep the in demand Almada until the conclusion of the season but a clamour for his signature may emerge now that the European season has concluded.
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Even if he does eventually command a record-breaking fee, it is probably fair to assume that this will be broken in the coming years, however. One would surmise that the impending stateside arrival of his international captain Lionel Messi this summer will improve the exposure of MLS worldwise, thus effectively catapulting the value of players in the league.
Thiago Almada's future in the MLS is uncertain with clubs including Napoli currently keeping tabs on his availability. (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Here at Mirror Sport , we thought we would put together a list of the most expensive players to ever be sold by MLS teams since the league's inception. Without further ado...
Miguel Almiron - $27million (£20m)
The tricky attacking midfielder from Paraguay made his name in MLS with Atlanta United, becoming a pivotal member of the team as he bagged an impressive 21 goals and 28 assists in 62 appearances in Georgia. He was crucial to the team's MLS Cup success in 2018 before moving on to Newcastle United for $27 million in 2019, where he has just experienced his best Premier League season to date as the Magpies reached the top four.
Alphonso Davies - $22million (£17.34m)
One of the true superstars to have emerged from the North Americas in the past decade, the lightning quick wing-back played 68 times for his boyhood team Vancouver Whitecaps, becoming the second youngest player to debut in MLS since the famous Freddy Adu. The Canada international moved to Bayern Munich for $22 million in 2019 and has gone on to win pretty much every honour available to him in the time since, including the Champions League in 2020.
MUNICH, GERMANY - DECEMBER 17: Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern München runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 17, 2021 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)Who is the biggest talent to have played in MLS prior to Lionel Messi? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Jhon Durán - $22million (£17.34m)
The Columbian forward was only an MLS player for a year, turning out for Chicago Fire where he scored eight goals and made three assists over 28 games in the league. Having signed in 2021 for $2.5 million, the Illinois team made a tidy profit on the striker, selling him to Premier League outfit Aston Villa for a deal worth up to $22 million in January. The 22-year-old is still without his first goal in England.
Ricardo Pepi - $20million (£15.76m)
One of the true transfer sagas of 2022 involved the young USMNT international, who made a major impression turning out for FC Dallas, notching 13 goals in this final season and being named MLS Young Player of the Year for 2021. A fight emerged for his signature following these performances, with the youngster eventually signing for Bundesliga side Augsburg for a fee worth up to $20 million.
Gonzalo Martínez - $17million (£13.4m)
Commonly known as Pity Martínez, the midfielder was something of a coup for Atlanta United when he signed from River Plate back in 2019 for $17 million. He would play 54 times in all competitions in the US, notching 11 times before a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, making the club a small profit of $1m on their initial outlay.