Major League Soccer Spending & Expansion

By: Scott Allen | February 22, 2022

Major League Soccer is about begin its 27th season. We take a look at the top spending teams, highest paid players and top earning players over the last 10 seasons. Furthermore, Major League Soccer continues to grow with new investors/owners with the sale/purchase of current franchises, expansion of new teams and invest money into new training facilities and stadiums. 

 

Top Spending Teams

A list of the top spending MLS teams over the last five (5) seasons (2017 - 2021).

  1. Toronto FC: $108,084,199
  2. LA Galaxy: $86,459,201
  3. Chicago Fire: $70,462,404
  4. New York City FC: $70,342,221
  5. Atlanta United FC: $66,263,215
  6. Seattle Sounders FC: $65,429,082
  7. Orlando City: $58,667,789
  8. Portland Timbers: $58,159,350
  9. Los Angeles FC: $57,585,374 (since 2018)
  10. Sporting Kansas City: $56,899,623
  11. CF Montreal: $54,462,383
  12. Columbus Crew: $53,717,015
  13. Real Salt Lake: $50,356,616
  14. FC Dallas: $47,931,823
  15. New England Revolution: $47,587,639
  16. DC United: $47,325,453
  17. Minnesota United FC: $46,986,049
  18. San Jose Earthquakes: $46,363,499
  19. Colorado Rapids: $46,099,675
  20. Philadelphia Union: $44,860,472
  21. Vancouver Whitecaps FC: $43,758,670
  22. New York Red Bulls: $42,311,364
  23. FC Cincinnati: $41,937,683 (since 2019)
  24. Houston Dynamo: $41,471,442
  25. Inter Miami FC: $32,199,907 (since 2020)
  26. Nashville SC: $21,387,511 (since 2020)
  27. Austin FC: $12,652,387 (since 2021)

 

Top Earning Positions

The top earnings positions over the last five (5) seasons.

  1. Midfielders, $601,659,240
  2. Forwards, $450,423,060
  3. Defenders, $293,242,674
  4. Goalkeepers, $74,437,072

 

Top Earning Players

Players who have earned the most guaranteed cash over the last ten (10) seasons.

  1. Michael Bradley, $41,928,571
  2. Jozy Altidore, $32,986,750
  3. Kaká, $28,670,000
  4. Sebastian Giovinco, $28,462,224
  5. Clint Dempsey,  $26,488,574
  6. Carlos Vela, $25,192,500
  7. David Villa, $22,500,000
  8. Robbie Keane, $20,250,575
  9. Giovani Dos Santos, $19,850,008
  10. Bastian Schweinsteiger, $17,100,000

 

Top One-Year Salaries 

Players who have earned the highest one-year salaries over the last five (5) seasons.

  1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA, 2019), $7,200,000
  2. Kaká (ORL, 2017), $7,167,500
  3. Sebastian Giovinco (TOR, 2017 & 2018), $7,115,556
  4. Michael Bradley (TOR, 2017 & 2018), $6,500,000
  5. Michael Bradley (TOR, 2019), $6,428,571
  6. Jozy Altidore (TOR, 2019), $6,332,250
  7. Carlos Vela (LAFC, 2019, 2020 & 2021), $6,300,000
  8. Carlos Vela (LAFC, 2018), $6,292,500
  9. Bastian Schweinsteiger, (CHI, 2018), $6,100,000
  10. Javier Hernandez (LA, 2020 & 2021), Giovani Dos Santos (LA, 2018): $6,000,000

 

Expansion

Major League Soccer continues to grow and has added six (6) teams in the last five seasons. Charlotte FC will begin the MLS journey with the start of the 2022 season and St. Louis City SC is set to join for the 2023 season.

  • Atlanta United & Minnesota United, 2017
  • Los Angeles FC, 2018
  • Inter Miami CF & Nashville SC, 2020
  • Austin FC, 2021
  • Charlotte FC, 2022
  • St. Louis City SC, 2023

 

Related MLS Article

Recent MLS and NWSL Investment Prices and Stadium Costs

 

MLS