Market values MLS: Zelarayán on the up - LA Galaxy star Chicharito drops again
With the 25th Major League Soccer season in the books, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 765 MLS players. The season concluded with the Columbus Crew's dominant performance in the MLS Cup Playoff final over last year's champions Seattle Sounders. Led by playmaker Lucas Zelarayán, the Crew defeated the Sounders 3-0 to win their second cup in history.
Not surprising, Zelarayán is among the biggest market value winners. The 28-year-old Argentine saw his market value grow by 66.7% from $6.6 million to now $11 million, which ranks him fifth in the league together with six other players. Among them are two other playmakers that had a major impact over the course of the season.
Minnesota United's Emanuel Reynoso and Philadelphia Union's Brenden Aaronson. The former was a decisive factor in the Loons reaching the Conference Finals, setting a new record for MLS Cup Playoff assists in a single season. Signed from Boca Juniors in a club-record transfer for Minnesota United, Reynoso has been worth every single penny doubling his market value from $5.5 million to $11 million.
Aaronson, in the meantime, will look back to the playoffs with a sense of disappointment. The 20-year-old led his club Philadelphia Union to a Supporters' Shield—the title awarded to the club with the most regular-season points—but his club was then eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the New England Revolution. The central midfielder is now headed to Europe, where he will try to replace Hungarian star Dominik Szoboszlai at Red Bull Salzburg. The US men's national team player saw his value grow to $11 million.
The three aforementioned stars are, however, not the only playmakers that have stood out this season. Toronto FC superstar Alejandro Pozuelo was awarded the Landon Donovan Award handed to the league MVP. TFC's Spaniard was indeed in phenomenal form this year, scoring nine goals and nine assists in 25 games across all competitions. As a result, his market value has increased by 50% from $8.8 million to now $13.2 million, making him the fourth most valuable player in the league.
Rossi breaks magic €20m mark - Mukhtar among biggest winners
And at the very top? Diego Rossi from Los Angeles FC. The winger has scored 16 goals and four assists in 21 games across all competitions this season. Unfortunately, for LAFC, however, the forward missed the playoffs after he tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty with Uruguay.
Nonetheless, his market value is up; the Uruguayan becomes the first player to break the €20 million ($22m) benchmark in MLS. Two more LAFC players can be found in the top three. Carlos Vela remains at $16.5 million, and Brian Rodríguez; his market value grew by 26.3% to now $13.2 million. Like Rossi, Rodríguez also missed the playoffs, which begs the question, how deep could LAFC have gone in this year's MLS Cup with two of their three biggest stars available?
The impact of Designated Players on the roster was also evident at Nashville SC. The MLS expansion franchise was very much in the shadow of the more glamorous project Inter Miami CF. But Nashville stole the spotlight in the playoffs where they eliminated first Inter Miami and then giants Toronto FC thanks to the outstanding performances by playmaker Hany Mukhtar.
Mukthar is among the biggest winners of the update as his market value has skyrocketed doubled from $3.3 million to $6.6 million. Other Nashville players also benefitted from a strong playoff run. Randall Leal saw his market value grow from $440,000 to $3.3 million, Daniel Ríos went from $385,000 to $2.2 million, and Canadian Alistair Johnston went from $550,000 to $2.2 million.
Reynolds benefits from Juventus & Roma links - Young guns on the up
Nashville players are not the only ones that have seen a significant increase in their value. Among the biggest winners were also several talented players, some, who could soon make their way to Europe. One of those players is FC Dallas right-back, Bryan Reynolds. Heavily linked with a big-money move to Italy, the 19-year-old is the latest super talent to emerge from MLS. Juventus have offered $6-7 million and Roma are willing to pay up to $9.2 million for the talented right-back. Transfermarkt has reacted by increasing his market value from $2.2 million to $6.6 million.
Other young stars also benefitted. Colorado Rapids' Cole Bassett (from $4.4m to $5.5m), Toronto FC's Ayo Akinola (from $3.3m to $5.5M), LA Galaxy's Efraín Álvarez ($2.2m to $4.4m), Djordje Mihailovic ($3.85m to $4.4m), who was recently traded to the Montreal Impact, and Philadelphia Union's Mark McKenzie ($3.3m to $4.4m)—to name a few. All those players belong to a new crop of up-and-coming MLS talent that could soon move on to Europe.
Players with a European past, however, have seen their market value drop. Most prominently, Gonzalo Higuaín and Mexican star Chicharito. But while the Inter Miami CF star is still ranked fifth in MLS with a market value of $11 million, LA Galaxy's Mexican star has seen his value further drop to now just $2.2 million—his lowest value since Jun. 2009.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jun 20, 1992 (31)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Al-Fateh SC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2026
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €4.50m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Mar 21, 1995 (29)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Nashville SC
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2026
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €12.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 10, 1987 (36)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- -
- Date of birth/Age:
- Nov 16, 1995 (28)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Minnesota United FC
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2025
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €5.00m