Major League Soccer set records for both incoming and outgoing players on the international transfer market this year, the league announced Wednesday.
The league's teams spent more than $370 million in the transfer market to acquire players, up from $336 million in 2025.
Among the high-profile players to join the league were Robert Lewandowski with the Chicago Fire, Antoine Griezmann with Orlando City, Josh Sargent with Toronto and Breel Embolo with Atlanta.
Thirty players with World Cup experience joined the league, including 20 from the 2026 World Cup. The average age of the players who joined the league was just over 25.
There were 186 total international players signed by MLS clubs, representing 51 countries, the league said. Brazil led the nations represented with 16 players joining the league.
In contrast, English clubs spent $4.7 billion on players in the summer transfer window, with Manchester City alone spending $600 million, a record for a single club.
Teams also generated a record $218 million in revenue from transfers, up from $202 million last year.
Fifteen players who commanded multi-million dollar transfer fees came through the MLS Pro Player Pathway. They include Benjamin Cremaschi, who went from Miami to Parma in Italy, and Sebastian Berhalter, who joined Middlesbrough from Vancouver.
Real Salt Lake homegrown player Zavier Gozo was sent to Crystal Palace for a reported $22 million, a record for an MLS homegrown.
MLS is moving to a summer to spring schedule next year to better align with other international leagues and transfer windows. Currently the regular season runs from late February to early November.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Fans hold up signs for Chicago Fire FC's Robert Lewandowski (9) during first half MLS soccer action between Toronto FC and Chicago Fire FC in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Keito Newman/The Canadian Press via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shay Whitcomb's RBI double capped a six-run rally with two out in the eighth inning as the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Wednesday to complete a series sweep.
With a runner at first and two outs in the eighth, Cade Winquest hit Brett Harris with a pitch and then walked Turner Hill. Bryce Eldridge followed with a two-run single to left to make it 6-3. George Soriano (6-5) replaced Winquest, and Jonah Cox hit an infield single that drove in another run. Jung Hoo Lee tied the game with a two-run double off the wall in right and scored the winning run on Whitcomb’s double to center.
Eldridge drove in three runs and extended his on-base streak to 18 games.
Left-hander Matt Wilkinson (1-3) pitched two shutout innings for his first major-league win. Trent Harris worked a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
Rookie Leo Bernal hit a three-run homer over the right field wall off starter Blade Tidwell to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead in the third inning.
St. Louis starter Andre Pallante held the Giants to a run on five hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander struck out four and did not issue a walk.
Giants first baseman Rafael Devers did not play Wednesday. His games-played streak ended at 309 games, 236 of which came with San Francisco and the first 73 with Boston.
This marked the eighth consecutive game between the Cardinals and Giants that was decided by one run, including San Francisco’s 5-4 win in 11 innings Monday and its 2-1 victory Tuesday.
The Cardinals and LHP Matthew Liberatore (5-14, 5.57 ERA) host the White Sox on Friday night.
The Giants and RHP Anthony Molina (3-0, 2.79 ERA) host the Padres on Friday night.
AP MLB: MLB ' Latest News, Stats, and Scores
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante (53) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
San Francisco Giants' Bryce Eldridge hits an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
St. Louis Cardinals' Leo Bernal watches his home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
San Francisco Giants' Jonah Cox hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee (51) hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
