MLS is becoming increasingly international, but not just when talking about which countries players call home. The diversification also manifests in which clubs and leagues players come from before stamping their MLS passport.
So, what does that latter picture look like for MLS newcomers in 2020? The Liga MX pipeline is no joke, with 11 players heading north this past offseason. Meanwhile, Argentina, England, Brazil and Spain are also home to common leagues players used to feature in.
This picture could further evolve with the Primary Transfer Window running through May 5 and the Secondary Transfer Window going from July 7 to Aug. 5. In the meantime, here’s how it all stands.
Mexico (11)
Fernando Meza (ATL), William Yarbrough (COL), Lucas Zelarayan (CLB), Edison Flores (DC), Franco Jara (DAL), Rodolfo Pizarro (MIA), Pedro Gallese (ORL), Felipe Mora (POR), Oswaldo Alanis (SJ), Alan Pulido (SKC), Lucas Cavallini (VAN)
Argentina (10)
Manuel Castro (ATL), Ignacio Aliseda (CHI), Gaston Gimenez (CHI), Braian Galvan (COL), Matias Pellegrini (MIA), Julian Carranza (MIA), Nicolas Figal (MIA), Emanuel Maciel (MTL), Rodrigo Schlegel (ORL), Yeimar Gomez Andrade (SEA)
England (7)
Anton Walkes (ATL), Jurgen Locadia (CIN), Luis Binks (MTL), Victor Wanyama (MTL), Josh Sims (RBNY), Winston Reid (SKC), David Milinkovic (VAN)
Brazil (6)
Matheus Rossetto (ATL), Thiago Santos (DAL), Antonio Carlos (ORL), Junior Urso (ORL), Yimmi Chara (POR), Joao Paulo (SEA)
Spain (5)
Alvaro Medran (CHI), Javier Hernandez (LA), Jairo Quinteros (MIA), Ballou Tabla (MTL), Pablo Piatti (TOR)
Colombia (4)
Andres Reyes (MIA), Miguel Nazarit (NSH), Andres Perea (ORL), Cristian Dajome (VAN)
France (4)
Robert Beric (CHI), Nicolas Benezet (COL), Zachary Brault-Guillard (MTL), Jason Pendant (RBNY)
Holland (4)
Siem de Jong (CIN), Kenneth Vermeer (LAFC), Alex Buttner (NE), David Jensen (RBNY)
Venezuela (4)
Miguel Angel Navarro (CHI), Christian Makoun (MIA), Jose Andres Martinez (PHI), Jeizon Ramirez (RSL)
Germany (3)
Marko Maric (HOU), Emiliano Insua (LA), Mandela Egbo (RBNY)
Israel (3)
Aaron Schoenfeld (MIN), Gadi Kinda (SKC), Leonard Owusu (VAN)
Norway (3)
Vito Wormgoor (CLB), Mohammed Abu (DC), Jakob Glesnes (PHI)
Poland (3)
Boris Sekulic (CHI), Adam Buksa (NE), Jaroslaw Niezgoda (POR)
Chile (2)
Jose Aja (MIN), Cristian Gutierrez (VAN)
Croatia (2)
Dario Zuparic (POR), Roberto Puncec (SKC)
Ecuador (2)
Jose Cifuentes (LAFC), Luis Amarilla (MIN)
Italy (2)
Orji Okwonkwo (MTL), Giuseppe Rossi (RSL)
Scotland (2)
Jake Mulraney (ATL), Lewis Morgan (MIA)
Serbia (2)
Luka Stojanovic (CHI), Ranko Veselinovic (VAN)
Sweden (2)
Tom Pettersson (CIN), Gudmundur Thorarinsson (NYCFC)
Uruguay (2)
Francisco Ginella (LAFC), Nicolas Acevedo (NYCFC)
Belgium (1)
Yuya Kubo (CIN)
Bulgaria (1)
Janio Bikel (VAN)
Canada (1)
Joel Waterman (MTL)
Costa Rica (1)
Randall Leal (NSH)
Denmark (1)
Hany Mukhtar (NSH)
Estonia (1)
Erik Sorga (DC)
Haiti (1)
Steeven Saba (MTL)
Honduras (1)
Brayan Beckeles (NSH)
Portugal (1)
Keaton Parks (NYCFC)
Russia (1)
Younes Namli (COL)
Slovakia (1)
Matej Oravec (PHI)
Turkey (1)
Adrien Regattin (CIN)
