MLS shocks the soccer world with big transfers this summer

Major League Soccer had always been perceived as a developmental league, a nurturing ground where talents grow in the North American soccer scene. But in recent years, MLS hasn't just begun luring big players; it has turned into a solid exporter of talent, with major transfers to some of the most renowned clubs abroad, an indicator that its relevance in the international market keeps on growing.

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This transfer window has seen some of the best talents in MLS leave for sums that, until recently, were unimaginable in American soccer. Now, let's take a closer look at the 10 biggest sales and the impact these moves have had both on the league itself and the clubs in question.

1. Thiago Almada – Atlanta United to Botafogo (Brazil) – $21M (could reach $30M)

Thiago Almada was sold for as high as $30 million, one of the brightest stars at Atlanta United. The price reflects his strength in the South American market, showing just how much MLS managed to boost the value of its top-level athletes. For Botafogo, a club looking to stop a long drought for a title in Brazil, Almada will be an important piece. That is good news for Atlanta, which assures them that investing in young promising talent does pay dividends.

2. Carlos Andrés Gómez – Real Salt Lake to Stade Rennes (France) - €11M (could rise to €13M)

The Colombian forward Carlos Andrés Gómez found his new home in France with the addition to Stade Rennes. Still only 21 years old, Gómez was on the radar of several European clubs, and MLS wasted little time negotiating a significant fee. That initial €11M is a great indicator of how MLS clubs are becoming more adept at selling talent for sums that were uncommon not long ago.

3. Caleb Wiley – Atlanta United to Chelsea (England) – $11M

Such a talent is Caleb Wiley, who went to Chelsea-actually, one of the giants of the Premier League-for 11 million dollars. Of course, this deal once more depicts that the top European clubs look seriously at MLS as a league now capable of rearing elite talent. With his pace and aggressive style of play, he certainly will have a cracking good time in England. And for MLS, the sale means that the league is increasingly a real springboard for European soccer.

4. Giorgos Giakoumakis – Atlanta United to Cruz Azul (Mexico) – $10M

Giakoumakis was made a cult hero at Atlanta United, and his $10M transfer to Cruz Azul only tightens the growing bond between MLS and Liga MX. Probably one of the most competitive markets on the American continent, the Mexican market looks more and more toward the talent that is Major League Soccer, a fact this deal proves concretely.

5. Moise Bombito - Colorado Rapids to OGC Nice - €7.7M (could rise to €10.7M)

Moise Bombito is another treasure of MLS that is moving to Europe. With his transfer to OGC Nice, Colorado Rapids showed they could develop promising talent and sell them for attractive prices. The initial fee of €7.7M, with a possibility of rising to €10.7M, puts Bombito in a very good position to grow in competitive French soccer.

6. Aidan Morris – Columbus Crew to Middlesbrough FC ​​​​​(England) – $4M

One of the more interesting young talents to leave MLS in recent times is Aidan Morris. Only 21 years old, the player was transferred for $4 million to Middlesbrough, a modest amount but one that can offer him extensive growth opportunities in England. Columbus Crew has lost a very valuable talent but earned a solid financial return in doing so.

7. Fidel Barajas – Real Salt Lake to Chivas (Mexico) – $4M

Young Mexican player Fidel Barajas chose to return home; Chivas, one of the most traditional clubs in Mexico, paid $4 million for his services. MLS keeps strengthening their ties with Liga MX, showing the movement of the players across the border between the two countries is more active than ever before.

8. Mamadou Fall – LAFC to Barcelona (Spain) – $4M

The most surprising transfer this window has probably been that of Mamadou Fall to Barcelona from LAFC. An admittedly low figure of $4 million, the move to one of the world's biggest clubs marks an important milestone in both the player's and MLS's history. This puts the league on the radar of giant clubs and opens up doors for large-scale deals to possibly be struck in the future.

9. Frankie Amaya – New York Red Bulls to Toluca (Mexico) – $3.5M

Frankie Amaya is the latest representation of MLS talent to find a new home across the border in Mexican soccer. The deal that took him to Toluca for $3.5 million sealed MLS' approach of selling players to those leagues that provide competitiveness and visibility to the international stage.

10. José Martínez – Philadelphia Union to Corinthians (Brazil) – €1.6M (could reach €2M)

Finally, there is José Martínez, sold to Corinthians for €1.6M with the potential to reach €2M. It might be an interesting deal for the Brazilian club, which is hoping it will take Martínez's talent and make use of him to strengthen its squad. For Philadelphia Union, it means another signal is thrown out onto the table as MLS exports players into traditional markets in the likeness of Brazilian soccer.

What Do These Transfers Mean for MLS?

These are not only million-dollar transfers but an evident development of Major League Soccer in the international arena. With time, MLS will cease to be the league that builds quality talent but also knows how to sell those talents in the international market with dignity.

Moreover, these sales mean that European and Latin American clubs are setting their sights on what happens within U.S. soccer fields. The MLS is not just an internal developmental league anymore, and it has not turned into a possible exporter of talent either.

The amounts used give evidence that the league is growing mature, turning itself into a reference for young talent development. To MLS clubs, such transfers mean more resources to invest in infrastructures, youth academies, and international reinforcements.