In the last January transfer window, 33 players left Major League Soccer for Europe. Top European clubs are increasingly looking to US soccer in search of stars who, thanks to the American season finishing in December, are primed to hit the ground running upon arrival.
And after a season that drew more transatlantic attention than ever before thanks to Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami, several MLS stars will have caught the eye of Europe’s elite.
Thiago Almada, midfielder, Atlanta United
It was something of a surprise when Almada landed in MLS in December 2021, rather than electing for a move to a European giant. The Argentinian attacking midfielder became the most expensive signing in the history of the US top division when he joined Atlanta United from Vélez Sarsfield in a deal worth $16m.
But Almada, who was a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has made no secret of his desire for an eventual switch to Europe. “I want to finish the season first and then think about the future,” he said in November. “In January I will look at what my options are. It’s my dream to play in Europe and I hope it comes true.”
Ajax were reportedly close to signing the 22-year-old last summer, and after another impressive season – he scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in the 2023 MLS season, adding to the six goals and seven assists of his debut campaign – European interest in Almada will only have strengthened. His finished the latest MLS season in the 99th percentile in shot-creating actions, progressive passes, successful take-ons, shots, passes, assists and expected assists, making him the most sought-after January prize on the US market.
Denis Bouanga, forward, LAFC
European clubs in search of a proven goal-scorer capable of making a quick impact will find an ideal candidate in Los Angeles FC’s Bouanga.
The France-born Gabon international spent most of his career in the French top flight – encompassing spells with Lorient, Nîmes and Saint-Étienne – before making a $5m move stateside in the summer of 2022. The Gabonese striker, who turned 29 in November, has been in the best form of his career for LA this past season. His return of 20 goals in 31 games for the MLS Cup runners-up saw him pick up the league’s Golden Boot.
Despite his success in the US, reports in France suggest Bouanga is keen to return to Europe this winter for “family reasons”, with interest from clubs in Ligue 1, La Liga and Serie A. Asked about a potential European transfer in the wake of December’s MLS Cup defeat to Columbus Crew, Bouanga admitted: “It’s a possibility, yeah.”
Brandon Vázquez, forward, FC Cincinnati
After the Brazilian Brenner’s $10m mid-season move to Udinese, another FC Cincinnati striker could be Europe-bound.
USMNT forward Vázquez enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, scoring 18 MLS goals to earn an All-Star berth and a place on the league’s end-of-season Best XI. Despite Cincy earning the top seed in the East and making a run to the Conference Finals in 2023, this past season marked a downturn in personal productivity for the 25-year-old, who netted nine times and provided two assists in 33 appearances.
That hasn’t deterred Vázquez’s European suitors, however, with the Premier League side Brentford said to be weighing up a January swoop for the powerful centre-forward.
Facundo Torres, forward, Orlando City
A versatile attacker capable of playing on either wing or centrally, Facundo Torres has impressed since a 2022 move from Peñarol in his native Uruguay to Orlando City – so much so that Arsenal were reportedly weighing up a move for the 23-year-old last January, while Ajax were named as potential suitors more recently.
And interest in Torres will only have grown off the back of an impressive 2023 campaign that saw the dynamic winger increase his goal-scoring output, netting 14 times in MLS, up from the previous season’s tally of nine goals.
A European move for Torres is a matter of when, rather than if, but a long-term contract extension penned in March will ensure Orlando are able to command a sizeable fee for their star asset.
Miles Robinson, centre-back, Atlanta United
USMNT centre-back Robinson is set to be a free agent by the time the January transfer window opens, with his Atlanta United contract due to expire on 31 December. At 26 years old and with the pedigree of 27 senior international appearances, he will be one of the most attractive MLS targets for European sides looking to strengthen at the back.
A torn achilles cost Robinson a place at the 2022 World Cup, but the imposing defender has allayed any fears over his future fitness this past season by racking up 29 MLS starts for the Five Stripes.
PSV are known admirers. The Dutch side are believed to be keen to add Robinson to a pool of US talent at the Philips Stadion that already includes Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi. PSV’s sporting director, the former US international Earnie Stewart, has confirmed his club’s interest.
“He has been on our list for a while, along with a number of others, so that is correct,” Stewart told ESPN. “There has been contact, but not only with him. I have contact with several players, because that is my job. He can play well with space in his back. I also saw with the United States national team that you don’t just pass him by.”
Cucho Hernández, forward, Columbus Crew
Hernández has been a revelation since joining Columbus Crew from Watford a year and a half ago. Always regarded as a standout talent, the Colombian striker was never able to lay down roots at Vicarage Road, making just 20 league appearances for the Hornets between three separate loan spells in Spain.
A $10m signing for the Crew in July 2022, Hernández appeared instantly at home in MLS, coming off the bench to make a scoring debut against Chicago Fire. With 30 goals in 51 appearances to date, the 24-year-old has been crucial to Columbus’s recent success, named among this season’s MLS Best XI and earning the MLS Cup MVP.
But with still just four senior appearances for Colombia, it might not be long before Hernández begins to wonder whether a return to Europe is needed in order to further his international career.
