819 players updated
With the secondary transfer window closed, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 819 Major League Soccer players, and there has been significant movement at the very top. The two most valuable players in the league, Lorenzo Insigne and Thiago Almada, have been downgraded but remain at the very top. Meanwhile, future Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina continues his ascend, and five New York City FC stars see their values increase significantly.
NYCFC may have lost top scorer Taty Castellanos to Girona. But in Talles Magno, the Citizens have once again a player in the top 10. The Brazilian was signed for $8 million from relegated Vasco da Gama in May 2021 and needed some time to acclimatize to MLS and, as a result, experienced the first downgrade of his career—other than the COVID update in April 2020—last November.
This season the 20-year-old, however, has been a revelation. Dynamic, unbelievably strong on the ball, and full of tricks, the attacking midfielder has scored six goals and six assists in 24 MLS games this season and has been a major reason NYCFC are once again playing a strong season. Consequentially, his market value has increased by 42.9%, from $7.7 million to $11 million. Four of Mallo’s South American teammates also benefitted. Santiago Rodríguez, Nicolás Acevedo, Thiago Andrade (from $2.75m to $4.4m) and Gabriel Pereira (from $3.3m to $4.4m) also saw their market values grow.
Major League Soccer – The 25 most valuable players after the update (August 2022)
Brandon Vazquez up by 900% – Reaction to recent transfer offers
Outside of New York City FC, the most notable increase in market value has been with FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez. The 23-year-old American center-forward has set the league on fire scoring 15 goals and four assists in 24 games. As a result, Liga MX side Chivas made an offer this summer based on his old market value of $550,000. FC Cincinnati quickly turned that offer down, and the Mexicans might want to check again as Vazquez’s market value has now increased by 900% to $5.5 million.
Vazquez is not the only young American to benefit. Chicago Fire goalkeeper Slonina continues his descent as one of the most prospects in world football. Signed by Chelsea for $10 million, Slonina has had both bright and difficult moments for his club this season. Nonetheless, Slonina is second in the league with ten clean sheets. The transfer fee and his current performance mean that his market value will also be adjusted from $3.3 million to $8.25 million. Slonina is now in the top 25 of most valuable MLS players and in the top 10 of most valuable players born in 2004.
Another young American to watch is Jesús Ferreira. The FC Dallas forward has scored 14 goals and five assists for Dallas this season, and his market value has been raced for the third time in a row, this time from $5.5 million to $8.8 million, which makes him the most valuable US men’s national team eligible player in MLS.
Across the border, CF Montréal midfielder Ismaël Koné is the biggest winner of the recent market value update. The 20-year-old central midfielder was heavily linked with a transfer to Norwich City this summer, but ultimately, the financial package was too big for the Championship side. The increased interest and Koné’s likely inclusion in Canada’s World Cup squad have a significant impact on his market value as went up by 350% to now $4.85 million.
Major League Soccer – The biggest winners of the update (August 2022)
Toronto FC stars Insigne. & Bernardeschi downgraded – Age major factor
Meanwhile, Montréal’s Canadian rivals Toronto FC have dominated the transfer headlines with the acquisition of Italian superstars Insigne (from Napoli) and Federico Bernardeschi (from Juventus). Insigne arrived with a market value of $27.5 million but aged 31, and with a future big money transfer, Transfermarkt has now started the process of adjusting his market value downwards. Despite a drop by $5.5 million to $22 million, the Italian playmaker will remain the most valuable player in the league. Bernardeschi, in the meantime, also drops; the winger is adjusted downwards from $11 million to $8.8 million.
Insigne remains at the top just ahead of Atlanta United’s record signing Thiago Almada. The Argentine was signed for $16 million from Vélez Sarsfield in February. Despite scoring four goals and five assists, Transfermarkt has opted to adjust his market value from $19.8 million to $16.5 million better to reflect the player’s last paid transfer fee. Almada, however, remains one to watch, and there is a good chance his market value could go in the other direction if he performs in MLS.
Meanwhile, other star players also see their market value drop. Chicago Fire winger Xherdan Shaqiri drops from $7.7 million to $5.5 million. D.C. United record signing Christian Benteke is adjusted downwards from $6.6 million to $5.5 million. Other older players like Seattle Sounders’ Raúl Ruidíaz (from $8.8m to $6.6m) or New England Revolution’s Gustavo Bou (from $6.6m to $5.5m) are also trending down. For the most part, the downgrades come down to age and are not necessarily a reflection of on-field performances.
How Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).
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