MLS
What could Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano’s salary be at San Diego FC?
The Mexican forward is set to become a landmark signing for the MLS expansion team, leaving behind title-winning PSV Eindhoven.
Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano’s long-rumoured move to San Diego FC looks to be edging ever closer as the MLS expansion side close in on their first Designated Player signing.
The 28-year-old forward has spent seven years in Europe with PSV Eindhoven and Napoli, winning three league titles and becoming a key figure for the Mexican national team. ESPN reports that Lozano’s move to San Diego is nearly completed and has outlined his potential salary range.
Lozano is expected to earn $7-$9 million per year in MLS, which would make him one of the league’s top earners. Reports suggest that he could sign for San Diego this summer, before being loaned back to Europe ahead of the start of San Diego’s inaugural MLS campaign next year.
For San Diego, it could prove to be a prudent investment. When LAFC joined MLS in 2017 they brought in Carlos Vela to lead the project and the Mexican star proved a massive success, both on the field and in commercial terms. He broke the league’s single-season scoring record in 2019 and led the team to MLS Cup in 2022.
Which players have the biggest salaries in MLS?
Securing Lozano’s services at the age of 28 would be a major coup in a league where top talents typically arrive towards the end of their careers. The sporting challenge proposed by San Diego, along with significant cultural ties, appears to have lured Lozano to MLS.
Also a factor, undoubtedly, is the salary that San Diego are offering, enough to make him one of the five highest-paid players in the league. He looks set to earn around the same amount as Sergio Busquets and Xherdan Shaqiri, behind only Lionel Messi and Lorenzo Insigne.
Current MLS top earners (guaranteed salary)
- Lionel Messi, Inter Miami - $20.4 million
- Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC - $15.4
- Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami - $8.8 million
- Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire - $8.2 million
- Sebastian Driussi, Austin FC - $6.7 million
Lozano would immediately find himself among the league’s highest earners if he joins San Diego and he could soon be joined by another big star departing Europe.
Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has been linked with a move to San Diego for months and he looks set to leave Sevilla at the end of his current contract with the LaLiga club. Ramos would likely demand a Designated Player spot and a significant salary if he were to make the move to the West Coast.