Major League Soccer (MLS) has broken its all-time transfer spending record, totaling $336 million in 2025. The headline signing was South Korea captain Son Heung-Min, joining Los Angeles FC (LAFC) from Tottenham Hotspur for $26.5 million—the highest individual transfer fee in MLS history.
This spending nearly doubles last year’s $188 million record, ranking MLS 8th globally for transfer spending, surpassing Mexico’s Liga MX and Argentina’s Primera Division.
Record-Breaking Transfers in 2025
- Son Heung-Min → LAFC – $26.5M
- Emmanuel Latte Lath → Atlanta United – $22M
- Kevin Denkey → FC Cincinnati – $16.3M
Eight MLS clubs set new internal transfer records, with Austin FC doing so twice. From January to February, MLS ranked 6th worldwide in spending at $145M and 7th in revenue at $125M, marking a 126% increase in outgoing fees vs 2024.
International Talent Arrivals
MLS welcomed 169 international players in 2025 from 50 countries, averaging 25.2 years old, with Brazil, Argentina, England, and Portugal being top talent sources. Teams executed 8 deals worth $10 million+, reflecting MLS’s growing competitive stature.
Cash-for-Player Rule Sparks Intra-League Transfers
The new MLS cash-for-player trade rule, introduced in January 2025, allows direct trades without allocation money or draft picks. The first season generated $40M across 11 players, helping clubs retain top talent while monetizing transfers. Notable trades include:
- Evander → FC Cincinnati
- Djordje Mihailovic → Toronto FC
- Jack McGlynn → Houston Dynamo
- Daniel Gazdag → Columbus Crew
- Luciano Acosta → FC Dallas
- Dejan Joveljic → Sporting Kansas City
Impact of Son Heung-Min’s Move
Son’s arrival strengthens LAFC’s global profile and signals MLS’s emergence as a serious competitor in the global transfer market. With record-breaking deals across multiple clubs, MLS is set to attract even more international stars.
