MLS
MLS becomes the favourite destination for Premier League talent
MLS has seen a huge influx of Premier League talent, which has become a de-facto feeder league for the growing competition.
Despite the arrival of Lionel Messi to MLS sending the idea of moving MLS into a new dimension, Europe’s top leagues have, for a long time, been keeping an eye on the American competition, which continues its exponential growth.
On Tuesday, one of the most promising signings of this season was confirmed, Matty Longstaff, who arrives from Newcastle to Toronto FC, where he will join other stars such as Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.
Longstaff has suffered from injuries, but at 23-years-old he still aspires to recover his best form and one day return to European soccer, especially the Premier League.
With the signing of Longstaff to Toronto confirmed, MLS has increased further the number of players and coaches who choose to leave the Premier League to come to U.S. soccer, looking for a new and challenging adventure in a league which is being seen as going through a period of staggering growth.
However, cases such as Miguel Almirón, Brenden Aaronson, Gabriel Slonina, or the current Chelsea goalkeeper, Djordje Petrovic are examples of MLS talent finding homes in the Premier League, showing the growth of the league as a whole.
MLS:
Huge players like Hugo Lloris, Christian Benteke, or Teemu Pukki are some of the star names that have landed from the Premier League. However, if we go back further, the arrival of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard also show that high-calibre players have previously set their sights on MLS from the major European leagues.
There is also the case of coaches, such as Rooney himself after his time at Derby County and his return to DC United, or the recent case of Eric Ramsay, who left Manchester United to become coach of Minnesota United.