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The MLS Players Association released salary information for 2023 on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Chicago Fire forward Xherdan Shaqiri is the highest paid player in MLS at $8,153.00.
- The median MLS salary is $530,262 in 2023, up 3.5% from $512,287 in 2022.
- Toronto FC has the highest salary expense in MLS, with a total guaranteed compensation of $25,741,930; CF Montréal is the lowest in MLS at $10,511,926.
The 10 highest paid players in MLS
Shaqiri leads the way, surprisingly ahead of Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne. Insigne was listed to have a $14,000,000 salary in 2022, but he joined halfway through the season, meaning he earned $7 million for his first half-season and the MLSPA estimated the final figure as if it were a full year . It’s back to $7.5 million for the full season in 2023.
Insigne’s teammate Federico Bernardeschi is fourth, giving TFC two of MLS’ five highest-paid players. LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is in the top five again. The Galaxy have two in the top 10, with Brazilian winger Douglas Costa the seventh-highest paid player in MLS.
Austin FC star Sebastian Driussi signed a new long-term contract extension this winter that put him in the top five highest paid players in the league at $6,022,500.
No Americans or Canadians are in the league’s top 10 highest-paid players. There are two Brazilians, two Italians and two Mexicans.
Here’s the full list:
- Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire — $8,153,000
- Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC – $7,500,000
- Javier Hernandez, LA Galaxy – $7,443,750
- Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC – $6,295,381
- Sebastian Driussi, Austin FC – $6,022,500
- Hector Herrera, Houston Dynamo – $5,246,875
- Douglas Costa, LA Galaxy – $4,508,333
- Luiz Araujo, Atlanta United – $4,483,333
- Christian Benteke, DC United – $4,432,778
- Josef Martinez, Inter Miami – $4,391,667
- Lucas Zelarayan, Columbus Crew – $3,800,000
Top and Bottom MLS Teams in Salary Spending
Top five:
- Toronto FC – $25,741,930
- LA Galaxy – $23,463,025
- Atlanta United – $21,257,396
- DC United – $20,016,591
- Austin FC – $19,922,021
Toronto FC leads the way in total roster spending, thanks to the generous budget for designated players Insigne and Bernardeschi.
Currently, 12 game days into the season, only two of the five biggest spending teams are above the playoff line. This year, 18 of the league’s 29 teams will make the playoffs.
Last five:
- CF Montréal – $10,511,926
- The city of St. Louis – $10,933,074
- New York Red Bulls – $11,163,066
- Orlando City – $11,227,559
- Real Salt Lake – $12,138,719
CF Montréal has the smallest wage bill in MLS this year, led by Victor Wanyama as the club’s sole PD and an MLS low of four players over the top salary cap ($651,250). The expansion side St. Louis City has the second lowest salary expenses.
The average salary increases again
The median MLS salary is $530,262 in 2023, up 3.5% from $512,287 in 2022. In 2021, that figure was $418,014.
GO DEEPER
Relations from the release of MLS player salaries
(Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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