MLS completed 33 transfers to Europe during winter window

Major League Soccer clubs were very active throughout the January transfer window, making a total of 37 transfers to Europe during that period. This is a positive sign that the league is growing every year and has started to export young talented players to different clubs in Europe.

Record breaking transfers

No other league in CONCACAF made more transfers to European clubs than MLS (33), which was followed by the USL (four), Canadian Premier League (two) and Liga MX (two). This includes players that were sold, sent out on loan, at the end of a loan spell or out of contract after the conclusion of the 2021 season. What's more, during this transfer window two players entered the list of the top five most expensive transfers in MLS history.

Ricardo Pepi

The United States international was transferred from FC Dallas to Augsburg for a club-record transfer fee. The Bundesliga side paid $18 million for Ricardo Pepi, making him the second most expensive transfer in MLS history. In first place is Miguel Almirón, who left Atlanta United in 2019 to sign with Newcastle United for a transfer fee of $24 million.

The 33 players that left MLS last month

Ricardo Pepi (USA) - from FC Dallas to FC Augsburg

Kevin Paredes (USA) - from DC United to Wolfsburg

Justin Che (USA) - on loan from FC Dallas to Hoffenheim

George Bello (USA) - from Atlanta United to Arminia Bielefeld

Auston Trusty (USA) - from Colorado Rapids to Arsenal

Daryl Dike (USA) - from Orlando City to West Brom

Chris Mueller (USA) - from Orlando City to Hibernian FC

James Sands (USA) - from NYCFC to Rangers FC

Cole Bassett (USA) - from Colorado Rapids to Feyenoord

Kyle Duncan (USA) - from NYRB to KV Oostende

Caleb Stanko (USA) - from FC Cincinnati to PAS Giannina

Dante Polvara (USA) - from NYCFC to Aberdeen

Jonathan Gómez (USA) - from Louisville City/FC Dallas Academy to Real Sociedad B

Jay Chapman (Canada) - from Inter Miami to Dundee FC

Richie Laryea (Canada) - from Toronto FC to Nottingham Forest

Julian Dunn (Canada) - from Toronto FC to HamKan

Clement Bayiha (Canada) - from CF Montréal to HamKan

Tajon Buchanan (Canada) - from New England Revolution to Club Brugge

Theo Bair (Canada) - from Vancouver Whitecaps to St. Johnstone

Ignacio Aliseda (Argentina) - from Chicago Fire to FC Lugano

Milton Valenzuela (Argentina) - free agent from Columbus Crew to FC Lugano

Riley McGree (Australia) - from Charlotte FC to Middlesbrough

Maikel van der Werff (Netherlands) - from FC Cincinnati to PEC Zwolle

Nani (Portugal) - from Orlando City to Venezia

Jesús Medina (Paraguay) - from NYCFC to CSKA Moscow

Mathias Jorgensen (Denmark) - from NY Red Bulls to Esbjerg FB

Vito Wormgoor (Netherlands) - from Columbus Crew to IK Start

Jukka Raitala (Finland) - from Minnesota United to HJK Helsinki

Erik Sorga (Estonia) - from DC United to Göteborg

Jamal Blackman (England) - from LAFC to Huddersfield

Marko Maric (Croatia) - from Houston Dynamo to Atromitos FC

Janio Bikel (Portugal) - from Vancouver Whitecaps to LR Vicenza

Issiar Dramé (France) - from NYRB to PFK Lviv