Grading the MLS Summer Transfer Window so far
- The MLS Secondary Transfer Window is open through August 14
- Several teams across the league have made splashes in the transfer and free-agent markets
- Teams are gearing up for the final stretch of the regular season before the playoffs begin
Teams around Major League Soccer continue to make moves as the Secondary Transfer Window is set to close in the coming weeks.
The North American league's Secondary Transfer Window runs from July 18-August 14 for United States-based teams and from July 12-August 8 for Canadian-based teams, meaning teams only have a couple of weeks left to make final tweaks to their squads before the final stretch of the season.
The likes of Atlanta United and LAFC have been making moves left and right in order to set themselves up for success in the final third, while the likes of FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami have moved to bring in depth on the defensive end due to injuries.
Here's how 90min has graded some of the most active MLS clubs during the summer transfer window.
1. Excellent - LAFC
In: Olivier Giroud (free transfer - AC Milan), Lewis O'Brien (loan - Nottingham Forest)
Out: Stipe Biuk ($4.3m - Real Valladolid)
LAFC have been rather busy this summer bringing in a couple of players to fuel their charge for the top seed in the Western Conference standings. The Black and Gold managed to secure the signature of the iconic Olivier Giroud to compliment Cristian Olivera and Denis Bouanga up front while bringing in midfield reinforcements in the shape of Lewis O'Brien on loan.
The move for Stipe Biuk just never really worked, and at least LAFC were able to recoup some of the reported $6m that they originally shelled out for the winger back in 2023.
2. Good - Atlanta United
In: Alexey Miranchuk ($13m - Atalanta), Pedro Amador (free transfer - Moreirense)
Out: Caleb Wiley ($11m - Chelsea), Giorgos Giakoumakis ($10m - Cruz Azul), Thiago Almada ($21m - Botafogo)
Atlanta United's front office has also been busy this summer with a few outgoings and a pair of players walking through the door. The Five Stripes have received over $40m in transfer revenue after the sales of Thiago Almada, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Caleb Wiley, and they've already made a few moves to bring in replacements.
Pedro Amador is the exact replacement for the young Wiley, while playmaker Alexey Miranchuk is Almada's replacement. The team still needs a star center-forward, and should they bring in one before the window ends, Atlanta could make a late push to secure a top sixth or seventh placed finish in the Eastern Conference.
3. Acceptable - Inter Miami
In: Hector Martinez (loan - River Plate)
Out: Diego Gomez ($18m - Brighton & Hove Albion), Emerson Rodriguez (loan - Vasco Da Gama)
Although the move hasn't been officially announced, Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly moved to sign Inter Miami's Diego Gomez for roughly $18m, according to GiveMeSport's Tom Bogert.
While it's sad to see such a talented player leave the south Florida side, Miami paid just $3m for Gomez a year ago and they will reportedly split the sale as Libertad -- Gomez's former club -- reportedly have a 50% sell-on clause.
Gomez is expected to stay in Miami until the winter after the MLS season is over, meaning the Herons don't have to necessarily bring in a replacement right away.
As Miami's center-back depth continues to shrink due to injury, the club moved to bring in Hector Martinez from Argentinian giants River Plate. With Nicolas Freire out for the rest of the season and Serhiy Kryvtsov struggling to stay injury-free, it was a sensible move for Miami to bring in Martinez -- but they might need a little more in defense if they are to keep up their Supporters' Shield charge.
4. Needs to do more - Philadelphia Union
In: Samuel Adeniran ($150k in GAM - St Louis CITY)
Out: Julian Carranza (unknown transfer fee - Feyenoord)
Philadelphia Union have become one of the most consistent sides in all of MLS under Jim Curtin. However, they've started to slip in 2024 as they find themselves in 10th place in the Eastern Conference looking from the outside in on the playoff spots.
As Julian Carranza departed Philadelphia for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, the Union only had Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo as their starting strikers. So, the Union moved to bring in Samuel Adeniran from St Louis CITY to bolster their attacking depth.
Philadelphia still have a solid squad with their two Designated Players in Uhre and Daniel Gazdag, but they must move quickly to fill their remaining DP spot if they are to salvage anything from this season.
5. Underwhelming - FC Cincinnati
In: Chidozie Awaziem ($500k - Hajduk Split)
Out: None
The reigning Supporters' Shield champions could certainly repeat as winners as they're only five points off first-placed Inter Miami, but they'll need to do some more work in the transfer market if that's going to happen.
The Orange and Blue moved to bring in center-back Chidozie Awaziem from Croatian club Hajduk Split for a relatively inexpensive transfer fee to bring in much-needed defensive depth.
Two of the team's starting center-backs in Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund will both miss the rest of 2024 after season ending injuries suffered in June, so bringing in Awaziem was a solid move.
However, reigning MLS MVP Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta can't do it all in the final third. While Corey Baird is a decent striker, the team really needs to open up their checkbook and bring in a center-forward for the long haul -- if they do choose to move on from Aaron Boupendza, who joined just a year ago to replace Brenner.
Cincinnati will more than likely go on another deep playoff run, but if they were to bring in a different striker compared to Boupendza as a DP alongside Acosta and Obinna Nwobodo, they would definitely have a better chance of lifting MLS Cup come December.