While the level of play is visibly improving in MLS, prestigious overseas clubs are no longer hesitating to grab the young stars of the circuit.
Posted at 7:38 p.m.
Fans may be disappointed, but it’s good news for the championship.
Transfers can pay off big financially, which can help train more players and acquire new ones.
The international transfer window opened at New Year and closed on Monday for most European leagues.
This window was the most lucrative in the history of the Garber circuit.
Among the players who have changed addresses, the American phenomenon, Ricardo Pepi, left FC Dallas for the Augsburg club in the Bundesliga for 20 million. Daryl Dike, from Orlando City SC, took the path of West Bromwich Albion for a sum of around 9.5 million.
German Premier League club Wolfsburg had to pay 7.35 million for DC United winger Kevin Paredes, while New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner will join prestigious English club Arsenal this summer. The transfer amount was not disclosed.
At the transfer window deadline, the Bundesliga continued to draw from MLS when Arminia Bielefeld acquired Atlanta FC player George Bello. Later in the day, Arsenal continued their shopping by securing Auston Trusty from the Colorado Rapids.
MLS’s contribution to the international market has grown in recent years given the success of the academies in supplying good players to their respective clubs. Scenarios like Pepi and Dike are no longer anomalies; moreover, many hopefuls are waiting their turn for a transfer.
The signing of Canadian Alphonso Davies by Bayern Munich in 2018 changed the reputation of MLS on the international stage.