MLS outdoes Liga MX yet again
Over the last three years, Major League Soccer has overwhelmingly surpassed Liga MX when it comes to European exports.
Soccer in the United States has increasingly captured the attention of the European game - an influence that has become especially evident in the transfer market following the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. According to the most recent data, Major League Soccer has finalized 16 outgoing transfers to Europe since the tournament, while Liga MX has registered only eight moves over the same stretch. The numbers reflect a clear gap in player exports between the two leagues.
MLS and Liga MX’s biggest post-Qatar exports
One of the most notable - and expensive - post‑World Cup transfers was that of American left back Caleb Wiley. A product of Atlanta United’s academy, Wiley secured a move to Chelsea in England for a fee reported to be around €11 million. The deal stands as the highest amount paid by a European club for an MLS player since Qatar 2022, underscoring the league’s continued rise as a talent producer.
On the Mexican side, the most prominent name is center back César “Cachorro” Montes. Developed through Monterrey’s youth ranks, Montes made his jump to Europe after the World Cup when he signed with Espanyol in Spain’s LaLiga. He later went on to play for UD Almería and now features for the Russians Lokomotiv Moscow. His total transfer value came in at roughly $9 million, placing him among the most significant Mexican signings of the period.
How the transfer figures compare
Financially, the contrast between the leagues is just as stark. MLS has generated an estimated $76.7 million in international transfer revenue, while Liga MX has collected approximately $31.4 million. These figures reinforce the U.S. league’s growing reputation as a fertile, increasingly valuable market for European clubs. As a result, the global transfer landscape is beginning to view North America as an emerging talent pipeline marked by sustained projection and rising short‑term competitiveness.
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