{"id":214159,"date":"2025-06-25T21:27:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T21:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214159\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T21:27:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T21:27:15","slug":"highest-paid-players-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214159\/","title":{"rendered":"Highest Paid Players of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Major League Soccer Players Association has released their first salary update of 2025 and there are no surprises about the league&#8217;s highest-paid player: It is once again     <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/tag\/inter-miami\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/inter_miami_logo.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>Inter Miami CF<\/a>&#8216;s     <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/tag\/lionel-messi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lionel Messi<\/a>.    <\/p>\n<p>For reference, here is the last salary release from the 2024 season.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<a class=\"dc-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/mlspa-releases-annual-salary-update-lionel-messi-still-highest-paid-mls-player\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <img width=\"3000\" height=\"1500\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"mlsstats\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mlsstats.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mlsstats.jpg\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                    Related<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/mlspa-releases-annual-salary-update-lionel-messi-still-highest-paid-mls-player\/\" title=\"MLSPA Releases Annual Salary Update: Lionel Messi Still Highest-Paid MLS Player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tMLSPA Releases Annual Salary Update: Lionel Messi Still Highest-Paid MLS Player<br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">The Inter Miami superstar is the highest earner in MLS, but who else joins him in the top-10?<\/p>\n<p>There are several new entrants on the top charts for players, though.<\/p>\n<p>                        Top 10 Highest Paid MLS Players<\/p>\n<tr>\n<p>Player<\/p>\n<p>Team<\/p>\n<p>2025 Salary<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Lionel Messi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Inter Miami<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$20,446,667<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Lorenzo Insigne<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Toronto FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$15,400,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Sergio Busquets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Inter Miami<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$8,774,996<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Miguel Almiron<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Atlanta United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$7,871,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Chucky Lozano<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>San Diego FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$7,633,333<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Federico Bernardeschi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Toronto FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$6,295,381<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Emil Forsberg<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>New York Red Bulls<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$6,035,625<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Jordi Alba<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Inter Miami<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$6,000,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Riqui Puig<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>LA Galaxy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$5,779,688<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Jonathan Bamba<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Chicago Fire<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$5,581,806<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<p>                        Key New Signings<\/p>\n<p>A number of     <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/ranking-the-best-moves-of-the-2025-mls-transfer-window-so-far\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">key new signings<\/a> entered     <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/tag\/mls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mls-logo.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>MLS<\/a> this year and their salaries are being released for the first time, ditto for key free agent signings or players moved within the league.    <\/p>\n<p>Below is the top-12 highest paid newcomers of 2025.<\/p>\n<tr>\n<p>Player<\/p>\n<p>Team<\/p>\n<p>2025 Salary<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Miguel Almiron<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Atlanta United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$7,871,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Chucky Lozano<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>San Diego FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p> $7,633,333<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Jonathan Bamba<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Chicago Fire<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p> $5,581,806<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Alexey Miranchuk<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Atlanta United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$4,885,441<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Evander<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>FC Cincinnati<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$4,736,411<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Emmanuel Latte Lath<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Atlanta United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$4,030,546<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Kevin Denkey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>FC Cincinnati<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$3,810,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Brandon Vazquez<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Austin FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$3,551,778<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>New York Red Bulls<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$3,530,667<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>David da Costa<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Portland Timbers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$3,425,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Dejan Joveljic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Sporting KC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$3,306,250<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Wilfried Zaha<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Charlotte FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$2,751,667<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<ul>\n<li>\n                                        Almiron leads the way for newcomers, one of three Atlanta United players on this list.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Emmanuel Latte Lath, the league-record signing ($22 million fee), gets a deal worth north of $4 million. Teammate Alexey Miranchuk, signed last summer, has a higher number listed for 2025 than initially last summer. Last summer he was listed at $3.69 million when he joined midseason and is now $4.89 million. The numbers changing isn&#8217;t abnormal for a summer signing and was part of the original deal.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Kevin Denkey was briefly the league-record signing ($16 million fee) before Latte Lath joined. He comes in just under Latte Lath in salary.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Denkey&#8217;s teammate Evander got a new contract as part of a huge cash trade to Cincy. He comes in at $4.74m. As he left Portland, the Timbers signed David da Costa, who makes the top 10 newcomers.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Charlotte FC star winger Wilfried Zaha rounds out the list as the 12th-highest paid new signing.\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of those players are designated players. In terms of the salary cap, they hit the books the same. Below is a list of interesting numbers released that may impact the cap much differently.<\/p>\n<tr>\n<p>Player<\/p>\n<p>Team<\/p>\n<p>2025 Salary<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Pep Biel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Charlotte FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,545,162<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Josef Martinez<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>San Jose Earthquakes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,450,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Tim Ream<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Charlotte FC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,142,500<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Jackson Yueill<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>New England Revolution<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,086,750<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Jack Elliott<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Chicago Fire<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,008,537<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Mark Delgado<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>LAFC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$1,000,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Ryan Kent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Seattle Sounders<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$959,900<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Tai Baribo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Philadelphia Union<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$810,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Oscar Urhoghide<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>FC Dallas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$643,982<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Cavan Sullivan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>Philadelphia Union<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center;width:100px\">\n<p>$364,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<ul>\n<li>\n                                        Pep Biel, who had been on loan through Aug. 1, is finalizing a deal to extend that loan through the end of the season. His $1.55 million salary is an issue for the winter if the club hope to keep him on a non-DP deal, as any transfer fee would be added to his budget charge.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                                            Josef Martinez is the highest free agent to change teams, as the former<br \/>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/tag\/cf-montreal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cf_montreal_logo-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>CF Montreal<\/a><br \/>\n                                     forward signed with the<br \/>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/tag\/san-jose-earthquakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/san_jose_earthquakes_logo-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>San Jose Earthquakes<\/a><br \/>\n                                    .\n                                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        The first full season of Tim Ream&#8217;s deal was revealed, after he joined Charlotte last summer.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Jackson Yueill, signed by New England, was one of the most expensive free agents. Jack Elliott was a marquee free agent, signing with Gregg Berhalter&#8217;s Chicago Fire.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                                            Mark Delgado,<br \/>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/lafc-acquire-mark-delgado-from-rival-la-galaxy-sources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">traded from LA Galaxy to LAFC<\/a><br \/>\n                                    , signed a new deal with his new club. The first data release sees him at $1 million, after a final guaranteed compensation of $876,250 last year.\n                                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        MLS Golden Boot leader Tai Baribo is at $810,000. One would imagine his agent will call Philadelphia upon the release of this data with new comps for contract talks.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        15-year-old wonderkid Cavan Sullivan is listed at $364,000.\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\t\t<a class=\"dc-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/mls-salary-release-highest-spending-teams-of-2025-revealed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <img width=\"3000\" height=\"1500\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"MLS_Highest Spending Teams\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mls_highest-spending-teams.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mls_highest-spending-teams.jpg\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                    Related<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.givemesport.com\/mls-salary-release-highest-spending-teams-of-2025-revealed\/\" title=\"MLS Salary Release: Highest Spending Teams of 2025 Revealed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tMLS Salary Release: Highest Spending Teams of 2025 Revealed<br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Spending big on salaries does not guarantee success in MLS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Major League Soccer Players Association has released their first salary update of 2025 and there are no&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214160,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-214159","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114746126983455212","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}