With the European seasons ending this month, many contracts on the continent are coming to an end as well. MLS Clubs are certainly assessing the market, looking to find key additions for the secondary transfer window ahead of the League Cup and the business end of the 2024 season.
Here are 11 players to target this summer and some educated guesses about potential destinations based on fit, roster needs and salary flexibility rather than resources.
Let’s start with a layup. LAFC will sign Olivier Giroud this summer when his AC Milan contract expires, as first reported by Athletics. However, nothing has been officially announced yet, so he’s still technically a free agent.
Continuing his career in MLS makes a lot of sense for Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer. His game has aged gracefully, so he can have an impact like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane and Didier Drogba before him in MLS.
The 37-year-old remains extremely productive for AC Milan, with 14 goals and eight assists in 2,229. Series A minutes this year. Giroud will join LAFC after Euro 2024, which runs from June 14 to July 14. MLSThe summer transfer window opens on July 18.
Best Fit: LAFC
GO DEEPER
How Olivier Giroud fits in at LAFC and when he could make his debut
Legendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos is a free agent this summer and a move to MLS looks more realistic now than ever, despite some unfounded rumors in the past.
The question would be where it would arrive and how much it would do. Would Ramos seek a place in the Democratic Party? If this is the only way to add it, is it worth it in this version of MLS?
The 38-year-old made 33 appearances in all competitions for Sevilla this season, showing he still has juice in those legs after making 671 appearances for Real Madrid and swelling his trophy cabinet.
Any team in need of a defensive anchor and culture setter could do a lot worse, and incoming San Diego FC is one of those teams. Chucky Lozano (who is in advanced talks with San Diego) and Ramos would be a big push to center stage for an expansion club. Another obvious option is LAFC given the market (the LA Galaxy don’t have a DP spot and already have TWO quarterbacks 35 and over) and their recent history. Hey, why not Austin FC?
Best Matches: San Diego, LAFC, Austin
Another Real Madrid centre-back with a trophy cabinet, Nacho will leave his boyhood club this summer after 358 senior appearances in 13 years with the club (23 years if you count the youth levels).
Like Ramos, the same benefits and questions apply. Nacho would undoubtedly be an asset to any team in the league on the pitch, but at what budget fee? Also like Ramos, he continues to be linked with a move to the United States. Nacho is 34, so his age is a bit more attractive than Ramos’, although his individual ratings are nowhere near Ramos’s peak.
Once again, San Diego would make sense as a landing spot for a great defenseman in this league and a cult figure from day one. Sporting KC not afraid of a veteran Spaniard. And Austin needs more defensive help, though I’d be surprised if they used a DP spot there.
Best fits: San Diego, Sporting KC, Austin
Marco Reus
Marco Reus joined Borussia Dortmund in 2012 and now, a dozen years and huge successes later, the former German international will become a free agent this summer.
Of course, MLS is an option. Specifically, how Athletics reported Wednesday, there have been preliminary talks with The city of St to potentially reunite with his good friend and former Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki.
Reus turns 35 this month and has not topped 1,500 league minutes in either of the last two seasons. He was still very productive – 11 goals and 13 assists in just under 2,800 minutes – but for the investment any MLS team would make, health would be a risk.
The deal would almost certainly require a DP seat, so only clubs with that flexibility will be considered.
Beyond St. Louis, some clubs make sense for Reus. Chicago went hunting for big stars (xherdan Shaqiri, Bastian Schweinsteiger) in recent years. LAFC gets a shout out for similar reasons, though they’ve had much more success with this approach.
Best suited: St. Louis, Chicago, LAFC
Sanchez has not had a regular role for Inter this season (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
At 35 and with plenty of mileage on him, Alexis Sanchez could be a dangerous signing for an MLS club. He could also still be a star in this league.
Sanchez has not had a regular role with Inter this season after winning the league title, but he is still just 12 months on from a superb season with Marseille in which he scored 18 goals with three assists in just under 3,500 minutes. .
The Chilean legend would fit in particularly well at a club where he can play against a traditional striker, be it as a second striker or a wide inside forward role (with minimal defensive duties).
Teams that fit that bill and could sign a DP include Chicago, Houston AND The real Salt Lake. The latter two aren’t typically markets that house stars with the name recognition that Sanchez has, and they couldn’t pass up Chicago if Chicago really wanted him, but he’d fit in with their respective teams.
Best Matches: Chicago, Houston, RSL
Memo Ochoa
After a quick stint in Italy, venerable Mexican goalkeeper Memo Ochoa will be a free agent this summer and looks set to return to North America.
Ochoa has been linked to San Diego, but sources briefed on the situation say there are no active talks and the club currently has no plans to pursue the goalkeeper.
It’s likely he could fetch more money at a big club in Liga MX as no MLS club would make him a DP and there aren’t many teams currently in need of a goalkeeper – but it’s still possible that he can land in the USA
San Jose needs a boost in goal, but only for the short term, as a starting goaltender DANIEL will return in 2025 (and possibly until the end of this year) after undergoing hamstring surgery. New England signed Aljaz Ivacic and maybe it’s settled in that department, but we’ll see.
Best fits: San Jose, New England, Orlando
Athletic Bilbao legend Iker Muniain has announced he will be leaving his boyhood club this summer. Muniain, 31, did not play much this season, but he had been a constant for more than a decade at the club.
In 2022-23 La Liga season he didn’t have great numbers in the box (four assists), but his underlying numbers were elite. According to FBRef, he was in the 99th percentile among attacking midfielders and wings in both creative shot shares and progressive passes.
Any deep-pocketed club wanting an elite chance-creating attacking midfielder could do much, much worse. Atlanta United moving to make Muniain of Thiago Almada the replacement (or complement) would be quite natural. The Chicago Fire desperately need an elite chance creator and have the financial muscle to outrun anyone. Charlotte FC looking for another PD striker this summer.
None of these three clubs play the full possession game that could be the perfect fit for Munia – but hey, the reigning champions The crew of Columbus they do, and they may add a DP this summer…
Best Matches: Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Columbus
Antonio has been linked with MLS in the past (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has been linked with a potential move to MLS before and will likely be again this summer.
Although some see the 34-year-old Jamaica international as injury-prone, this was the first year in which he missed more than a game here or there due to injury since 2020-21. He still contributed seven goals and two assists in just under 1,900 minutes for his club. He is just a year removed from 14 goals and five assists in around 2,800 minutes as West Ham won the UEFA Conference League. The top level talent is there.
The perfect club for Antonio would be one where he is simply extra, rather than integral to their success. Can he give an already strong Vancouver lineup a boost? Would RSL roll the dice?
Best Matches: Vancouver, Real Salt Lake
Joshua Windass
Sheffield Wednesday forward Joshua Windass has been on the radar of MLS clubs for some time and the interest is two-way.
In the off-season, several clubs made their interest known, with Real Salt Lake eventually targeting the England striker, although a deal never materialised. RSL later signed an Englishman from the Championship, Matt Crooks.
Windass was part of the Wednesday team that orchestrated a great escape from relegation this season. He led them to promotion from First League last spring and has 40 goals and 17 assists in four and a half seasons with the club.
The 30-year-old can play as a number nine, second striker or anywhere in attack, so he should be able to provide a boost to any club in need of an attacking punch. RSL would make a lot of sense but they filled their need with Crooks.
of New York Red Bulls could be a good fit if they don’t use a DP slot for a striker, while his quality and versatility could make him a strong option for both Colorado AND Philadelphiato name a few.
Best Matches: New York Red Bulls, Colorado, Philadelphia
Middlesbrough and Northern Ireland international centre-back Paddy McNair isn’t the most famous name on this list, but he would be a hugely useful signing for any club that can pull it off.
McNair, who just turned 29, is capable in both central defense and defensive midfield. He is a product of Manchester United’s academy but has made most of his professional appearances in the Championship with Boro.
As long as he were to accept a sub-max-TAM deal (no more than $1.7 million) as expected, McNair would be an excellent signing for an MLS club and a sign of the league going forward.
The Colorado Rapids could use another top defensive player, more likely at #6 rather than central defense if Lamine Diakthe purchase option is not selected. DC United also need more top-level defensive quality. whether Minnesota United can scratch the salary cap, this is another comfortable fit.
Best Matches: Colorado, DC United, Minnesota
Thomas Isherwood
Much of what I wrote about McNair applies to Thomas Isherwewood, 26, who spent the last few years with Darmstadt and helped lead the club to promotion to Bundesliga. The former Sweden youth international spent time in Bayern Munich’s academy towards the end of his youth career.
A top-five, proven top-five quarterback on a free transfer? Isherwood fits the bill for many teams at the right price. The clubs above for McNair all follow through here as well, with Philadelphia often being proactive in replenishing talent on the roster when they see an opportunity.
Dallas needs another quarterback, but will probably have to shed players to find salary cap space.
Best fits: Minnesota, Philadelphia, Dallas
(Feature photos: Getty Images)
