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For the majority of time since MLS' inception, the league was considered a buying league, purchasing big players beyond their prime in order to increase its reputation in world football.
But in the last few years, we have seen many of the league's young or talented players move abroad, with the overall level of US football rising drastically.
Several players have moved from the MLS to Europe or other leagues for big sums
In recent years, many European clubs have come to scout talent in the MLS and sign young players. Many South American players have also made a name for themselves in the MLS, attracting the attention of these clubs.
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As such, several of these players have moved to Europe for record deals from the MLS in the last decade or so. Here, we take a look at the five most expensive outgoing transfers in the history of the MLS:
#5 Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew to Manchester City, 2019) - €6.82 million
USA international Zack Steffen joined MLS side Columbus Crew on a free transfer from German side SC Freiburg in 2016. Three years later, Columbus sold the shot-stopper to Premier League giants Manchester City for nearly €7 million, making a decent profit on the 26-year-old.
Steffen managed to keep 26 clean sheets in 84 appearances for the Crew, with his performances helping him win the Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2018. Although he didn't win any silverware during his time in the MLS, he did more than enough to earn a big-money move to a Premier League side.
Steffen has mostly been used as a backup to Ederson at Manchester City, making just 16 appearances for the club so far. He has however been a regular in cup games, helping City to the League Cup title last season.
Steffen has also been first-choice for the U.S. since making his debut in 2018 and currently has 24 caps for the national team.
#4 Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls to Villarreal CF, 2008) - €7.27 million
€7 million is a really small transfer fee in today's football transfer market. But back in 2008, Jozy Altidore's surprise move for such a sum from the New York Red Bulls to Villarreal sent shockwaves through the MLS. It was a big sum considering that European clubs did not generally sign players from the MLS back then.
Altidore was just 18 when he joined the Spanish side. However, in the next three years, the forward managed to make just 22 appearances for Villarreal, scoring three goals in the process.
During that time, Altidore had unsuccessful loan spells across Europe with Xerez, Hull City and Buraspor before Villarreal finally sold him to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in 2011.
He had a decent time in the Eredivisie winning the Dutch Cup, which earned him a move to Sunderland in 2013. But the forward failed to perform for the Black Cats and eventually returned to the MLS with Toronto in 2015.
Altidore has rediscovered his best form since returning to his native place. The forward has scored 77 goals in 169 appearances while also lifting the MLS Cup with the side in 2017 and the Canadian Cup in 2017 and 2018. However, he will always mostly be remembered for his record-breaking transfer back in the day.
#3 Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps to FC Bayern, 2019) - €10 million
Undoubtedly the most high-profile player on this list, it is difficult to think of any other MLS player who has made a much quicker impact than Alphonso Davies in Europe.
The Canadian became the first player born in 2000s to play in MLS, making his debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2016. But after impressing for the Whitecaps over the next couple of years, it was pretty evident that the left-back was destined to play for a top side in Europe.
Premier League sides Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea were all reportedly scouting the teenager. However, it was Bayern Munich who managed to snap him up in January 2019 for a fee of €10 million.
Since then, the pacey left-back, who can play further up the field, has become an integral part of the team. He has made 96 appearances for the club so far and has already won three Bundesliga titles, two German Cups as well as the Champions League in 2020.
Davies has certainly taken the European game by storm since arriving in Germany. Although he cost €10 million, there's no doubt that Bayern have got him for an absolute bargain, given what he has achieved in a relatively short career so far.
#2 Gonzalo Martinez (Atlanta United to Al-Nassr FC, 2020) - €16.36 million
Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez became one of MLS' most expensive signings when Atlanta United acquired him from River Plate for €14.5 million in January 2019. But less than two years later, the Argentine became the second most expensive export in MLS history.
Atlanta managed to make a profit of around €2 million after selling the midfielder to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr FC. But after Martinez guided the Five Stripes to US Open Cup and Campeones Cup triumphs in 2019, one could argue that the profit could have been even more.
Overall, Martinez contributed 11 goals and 14 assists in 54 appearances for the MLS outfit. Alongside fellow 2019 MLS All-Star Josef Martinez, Pity was part of one of the most successful teams in the club's relatively short history.
Now 27, Martinez is currently in his prime and the midfielder has already earned three caps for the Argentina national team. Martinez will certainly be hoping to earn another big-money move in the future with Europe probably his most preferred destination.
#1 Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United to Newcastle United, 2019) - €24 million
Another Atlanta United player on the list, Miguel Almiron, became the most expensive MLS export in history, when he moved to Newcastle United for a whopping €24 million in 2019. The Paraguyan international is also the third most expensive player in Newcastle's history, behind legendary striker Michael Owen and current Magpies forward Joelinton.
Almiron joined Atlanta from Argentine club Lanus for a reported fee of around €7 million in 2017. The 27-year-old's maiden MLS season was impressive as he registered nine goals and eight assists, leading the Five Stripes to the MLS Cup in 2018. The following season, however, he took his game to another level, bagging 13 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
Naturally this attracted interest from a host of European clubs and although Atlanta intended to keep him, Newcastle's mammoth offer was too hard to turn down for the MLS outfit.
Almiron has registered 13 goals and five assists in 100 appearances for Newcastle so far. While these numbers are nowhere close to his performances in the MLS, he remains one of Newcastle's best players at the moment. However, with the Magpies set to welcome a new era after their Saudi Arabian takeover, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Almiron.
