List of most expensive American soccer transfers

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Christian Pulisic, who completed the most expensive transfer ever by an American soccer player. USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago (48125059622) (cropped).jpg
Christian Pulisic, who completed the most expensive transfer ever by an American soccer player.

The following is a list of most expensive American soccer transfers, which details the highest transfer fees ever paid for players, as well as transfers which set new American transfer records. The current transfer record was set by the transfer of Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea for $65 million in August 2019.

Contents

Highest transfer payments for American players

Fees $4.0m or higher.

PlayerFromToFeeYearRef
Christian Pulisic Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Dortmund Flag of England.svg Chelsea $65.0m2019 [1]
Folarin Balogun Flag of England.svg Arsenal Flag of France.svg Monaco $43.0m2023 [2]
Brenden Aaronson Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Salzburg Flag of England.svg Leeds United $30.2m2022 [3]
Tyler Adams Flag of England.svg Leeds United Flag of England.svg Bournemouth $25.5m2023 [4]
Christian Pulisic Flag of England.svg Chelsea Flag of Italy.svg AC Milan $24.2m2023 [5]
Tyler Adams Flag of Germany.svg RB Leipzig Flag of England.svg Leeds United $24.1m2022 [6]
Sergiño Dest Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ajax Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona $23.1m2020 [7]
Weston McKennie Flag of Germany.svg Schalke 04 Flag of Italy.svg Juventus $22.5m2021 [8]
Yunus Musah Flag of Spain.svg Valencia CF Flag of Italy.svg AC Milan $20.0m2023 [9]
Ricardo Pepi Flag of the United States.svg FC Dallas Flag of Germany.svg Augsburg $20.0m2022 [10]
John Brooks Flag of Germany.svg Hertha BSC Flag of Germany.svg Wolfsburg $19.4m2017 [11]
Jozy Altidore Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ Flag of England.svg Sunderland $13.0m2013 [12]
Matt Turner Flag of England.svg Arsenal Flag of England.svg Nottingham Forest $12.7m2023 [13]
Timothy Weah Flag of France.svg Lille Flag of Italy.svg Juventus $12.4m2023 [14]
Timothy Weah Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain Flag of France.svg Lille $11.4m2019 [15]
Michael Bradley Flag of Italy.svg Roma Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto FC $10.4m2014 [15]
Jozy Altidore Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls Flag of Spain.svg Villarreal $10.0m2008 [15]
Ricardo Pepi Flag of Germany.svg Augsburg Flag of the Netherlands.svg PSV $9.8m2023 [14]
Daryl Dike Flag of the United States.svg Orlando City SC Flag of England.svg West Bromwich Albion $9.5m2022 [16]
Josh Sargent Flag of Germany.svg Werder Bremen Flag of England.svg Norwich City $9.5m2021 [17]
Clint Dempsey Flag of England.svg Fulham Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur $9.0m2012 [17]
Clint Dempsey Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders FC $9.0m2013 [18]
Brandon Vázquez Flag of the United States.svg FC Cincinnati Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey $7.5m2024 [19]
Zack Steffen Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew Flag of England.svg Manchester City $7.5m2019 [20]
Bryan Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg FC Dallas Flag of Italy.svg Roma $7.4m2021 [20]
Kevin Paredes Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United Flag of Germany.svg Wolfsburg $7.0m2022 [17]
DeAndre Yedlin Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur Flag of England.svg Newcastle United $6.7m2016 [17]
Gianluca Busio Flag of the United States.svg Sporting Kansas City Flag of Italy.svg Venezia $6.6m2021 [21]
Brenden Aaronson Flag of the United States.svg Philadelphia Union Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Salzburg $6.5m2021 [20]
Djordje Mihailovic Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CF Montréal Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ $6.0m2023 [22]
Maurice Edu Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto FC Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers $5.9m2008 [17]
Claudio Reyna Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers Flag of England.svg Sunderland $5.9m2001 [23]
Tim Howard Flag of England.svg Manchester United Flag of England.svg Everton $5.7m2007 [17]
Matt Miazga Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls Flag of England.svg Chelsea $5.2m2016 [17]
Aron Jóhannsson Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ Flag of Germany.svg Werder Bremen $4.6m2015 [17]
Bobby Wood Flag of Germany.svg Hamburg Flag of Germany.svg Hannover 96 $4.5m2016 [17]
Owen Otasowie Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brugge $4.4m2021 [24]
Kenny Saief Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Gent Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Anderlecht $4.3m2018 [17]
Tim Ream Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls Flag of England.svg Bolton Wanderers $4.1m2012 [17]
Brek Shea Flag of the United States.svg FC Dallas Flag of England.svg Stoke City $4.1m2013 [25]
Djordje Mihailovic Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Rapids $4.0m2024 [26]
Tanner Tessmann Flag of the United States.svg FC Dallas Flag of Italy.svg Venezia $4.0m2021 [27]
Matthew Hoppe Flag of Germany.svg Schalke 04 Flag of Spain.svg Mallorca $3.9m2021 [28]
Brad Friedel Flag of England.svg Blackburn Rovers Flag of England.svg Aston Villa $3.9m2008
Eddie Johnson Flag of the United States.svg Kansas City Wizards Flag of England.svg Fulham $3.6m2008
Paul Arriola Flag of Mexico.svg Tijuana Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United $3.5m2017 [29]
Konrad de la Fuente Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Flag of France.svg Marseille $3.3m2021
Hérculez Gómez Flag of Mexico.svg Santos Laguna Flag of Mexico.svg Tijuana $3.0m2013 [17]

Historical progression

YearPlayerFromToFee ($)Ref
1990 Tab Ramos Flag of the United States.svg Miami Sharks Flag of Spain.svg Figueres $248,000
1998 Brad Friedel Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew Flag of England.svg Liverpool $2.1m
2001 Claudio Reyna Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers Flag of England.svg Sunderland $5.9m
2008 Jozy Altidore Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls Flag of Spain.svg Villarreal $10.0m
2013 Jozy Altidore Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ Flag of England.svg Sunderland $13.0m
2017 John Brooks Flag of Germany.svg Hertha BSC Flag of Germany.svg Wolfsburg $19.4m
2019 Christian Pulisic Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Dortmund Flag of England.svg Chelsea $65.0m

Highest transfer payments received by American soccer clubs

PlayerNatFromToFeeYearRef
Miguel Almirón Flag of Paraguay.svg  PAR Atlanta United FC Flag of England.svg Newcastle United $26.0m2019 [20]
Thiago Almada Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Atlanta United FC Flag of France.svg Lyon $22.0m2024 [19]
Ricardo Pepi Flag of the United States.svg  USA FC Dallas Flag of Germany.svg Augsburg $20.0m2022 [20]
Jhon Durán Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Chicago Fire Flag of England.svg Aston Villa $18.7m2023 [30]
Pity Martínez Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Atlanta United FC Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr $18.0m2020 [20]
Đorđe Petrović (footballer) Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB New England Revolution Flag of England.svg Chelsea $12.5m2023
Jozy Altidore Flag of the United States.svg  USA New York Red Bulls Flag of Spain.svg Villarreal $10.0m2008 [20]
Daryl Dike Flag of the United States.svg  USA Orlando City SC Flag of England.svg West Bromwich Albion $9.5m2022 [20]
Brandon Vázquez Flag of the United States.svg  USA FC Cincinnati Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey $7.5m2024 [19]
Zack Steffen Flag of the United States.svg  USA Columbus Crew Flag of England.svg Manchester City $7.5m2019 [20]
Bryan Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  USA FC Dallas Flag of Italy.svg Roma $7.4m2021 [20]
Tajon Buchanan Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN New England Revolution Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brugge $7.0m2022 [20]
Brenden Aaronson Flag of the United States.svg  USA Philadelphia Union Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Salzburg $6.5m2021 [20]

Historical progression

YearPlayerSelling clubBuying clubFee ($)Ref
1990 Tab Ramos Miami Sharks Flag of Spain.svg Figueres 248,000
1998 Brad Friedel Columbus Crew Flag of England.svg Liverpool 2,100,000 [31]
2000 Eddie Lewis San Jose Earthquakes Flag of England.svg Fulham 2,300,000
2006 Clint Dempsey New England Revolution Flag of England.svg Fulham 4,000,000 [32]
2008 Jozy Altidore New York Red Bulls Flag of Spain.svg Villarreal 10,000,000 [33]
2019 Miguel Almirón Atlanta United FC Flag of England.svg Newcastle United 26,000,000 [33]

Highest transfer payments paid by American soccer clubs

PlayerNatFromToFeeYearRef
Thiago Almada Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Flag of Argentina.svg Vélez Sarsfield Atlanta United FC $16.0m2022 [18]
Pity Martínez Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Flag of Argentina.svg River Plate Atlanta United FC$15.5m2019 [18]
Ezequiel Barco Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Flag of Argentina.svg Independiente Atlanta United FC$15.0m2018 [18]
Brenner Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Flag of Brazil.svg São Paulo FC Cincinnati $13.0m2021 [18]
Rodolfo Pizarro Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey Inter Miami CF $12.0m2020 [18]
Luiz Araújo Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Flag of France.svg Lille Atlanta United FC$11.0m2021 [18]
Alan Pulido Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Flag of Mexico.svg Guadalajara Sporting Kansas City $9.5m2020 [18]
Javier Hernández Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Flag of Spain.svg Sevilla LA Galaxy $9.4m2020 [18]
Clint Dempsey Flag of the United States.svg  USA Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur Seattle Sounders FC $9.0m2013 [18]
Brian Rodríguez Flag of Uruguay.svg  URU Flag of Uruguay.svg Peñarol Los Angeles FC $8.8m2019 [18]
Talles Magno Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Flag of Brazil.svg Vasco da Gama New York City FC $8.2m2021 [18]
Miguel Almirón Flag of Paraguay.svg  PAR Flag of Argentina.svg Lanús Atlanta United FC$8.0m2016 [18]
Xherdan Shaqiri Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   SUI Flag of France.svg Lyon Chicago Fire $7.5m2022 [18]

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References

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  2. ↑ "'A fabulous move' - Gregg Berhalter on Folarin Balogun's €40m Monaco transfer and how he plans to use him with the USMNT | Goal.com". www.goal.com. August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ Creditor, SkySports (May 26, 2022). "Leeds transfer news: Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson signs on a five-year deal". SkySports . Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ Gastelum, Andrew (August 20, 2023). "USMNT Captain Tyler Adams Joins Premier League's Bournemouth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
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  6. ↑ "Tyler Adams: Leeds sign RB Leipzig and USA international". Sky Sports . Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  7. ↑ Creditor, Avi (October 1, 2020). "Barcelona Signs U.S. Defender Sergiño Dest From Ajax". Sports Illustrated . Authentic Brands Group . Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ Zucker, Joseph (March 3, 2021). "Weston McKennie Signed by Juventus on Permanent Transfer After Option Exercised". Bleacher Report . Turner Sports Digital. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Official: Musah joins Milan from Valencia". Football Italia. August 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ Prince-Wright, Joe (January 3, 2022). "USMNT's Ricardo Pepi completes $20 million transfer to Augsburg; is this a good fit?". NBC Sports . Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ Usry, Rob (May 30, 2017). "Official: John Brooks transfers to Wolfsburg". Stars and Stripes FC. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  12. ↑ Prince-Wright, Joe (July 9, 2013). "Official: Jozy Altidore signs for EPL side Sunderland in $13 million deal". ProSoccerTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  13. ↑ "USA goalkeeper Matt Turner joins Nottingham Forest from Arsenal". www.theguardian.com. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "USMNT transfer tracker: Weah to Juventus, Pepi commits to PSV". Fox Sports . July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "USMNT: Top 10 most expensive transfers of all-time". MLS Multiplex. April 10, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ Madeley, Steve (January 1, 2022). "West Brom confirm permanent signing of striker Daryl Dike from Orlando City". The Athletic . The New York Times Company . Retrieved May 8, 2022.
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  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Bogert, Tom (February 11, 2022). "Top 12 most expensive incoming transfers in MLS history". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 Brennan, Pat (January 3, 2024). "FC Cincinnati finalizing Brandon Vazquez transfer to Mexico's CF Monterrey". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Bogert, Tom (January 3, 2022). "Top 10 most expensive outbound transfers in MLS history". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  21. ↑ City, Sporting Kansas. "Peter Vermes on why Gianluca Busio's transfer to Venezia made sense now". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
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  23. ↑ "Reyna completes £4m Sunderland move". The Guardian . December 7, 2001. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Owen Otasowie still yet to make Club Brugge debut after leaving Wolves". Molineux News. December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ "American winger Brek Shea completes move to Stoke". RSN. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ "American forward Djordje Mihailovic joins MLS's Colorado Rapids". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  27. ↑ Epperley, Drew (July 15, 2021). "FC Dallas transfers Tanner Tessmann to Italian side Venezia FC". Big D Soccer. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  28. ↑ "USMNT's Hoppe joins Mallorca from Schalke". ESPN.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  29. ↑ Goff, Steven (August 9, 2017). "D.C. United signs Paul Arriola in most expensive deal in club history". The Washington Post . Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Villa sign Chicago striker Duran in £18m deal". BBC Sport. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Friedel Is Cleared To Join Liverpool". New York Times. December 20, 1997. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  32. ↑ Dell'Apa, Frank (January 7, 2007). "Dempsey could set the tone for future MLS transfers". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  33. 1 2 Bogert, Tom (January 3, 2022). "Top 10 most expensive outbound transfers in MLS history". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
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