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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Amanda Langell

The 10 Most Expensive Players to Leave MLS for Europe

Diego Gomez is on his way to the Premier League after leaving Major League Soccer and Inter Miami. | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Year after year, MLS clubs are reaping the benefits of transferring some of their brightest stars to Europe for record-breaking fees. None more recently than Diego Gómez who recently moved from Inter Miami to Brighton & Hove Albion.

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Although Major League Soccer has made headlines by signing legendary soccer players, including David Beckham, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, the league is also completing monumental deals for players on their way to Europe. As MLS continues to expand and attract more attention, the league's top stars are receiving opportunities represent Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A clubs.

Transfer fees for players heading to Europe have exceeded $20 million multiple times in recent years. In fact, in 2024 alone, three players have cracked the MLS's top ten most expensive outgoing transfers of all time. Some players have yet to leave their mark against European competition, but others have flourished since leaving MLS.

Check out the most expensive outgoing transfers in MLS history that made their way to Europe.


The 10 Most Expensive Players to Leave MLS for Europe

The newest edition to the list is Diego Gómez who recently signed with Brighton & Hove Albion from Inter Miami. At a reported $15 million, it's the seventh most expensive transfer. In fact, the seventh, eighth and ninth most expensive transfers to Europe happened in 2024. A testament to not only the increased economics around player transfers, but to the talent that is garnering interest abroad.


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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 10 Most Expensive Players to Leave MLS for Europe.

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