2026 General MLS Transfer Thread

[Gene]

Jeez, how could he pass up New Jersey?

NEWS: San Jose Earthquakes Sign UEFA Champions League Winner Timo Werner as Designated Player | San Jose Earthquakes

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced today they have acquired Timo Werner from German Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig on a permanent transfer and signed him to a Designated Player contract through June 2028. The German international comes to Major League Soccer as the biggest...

www.sjearthquakes.com

 

[gbservis]

Jeez, how could he pass up New Jersey?

NEWS: San Jose Earthquakes Sign UEFA Champions League Winner Timo Werner as Designated Player | San Jose Earthquakes

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced today they have acquired Timo Werner from German Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig on a permanent transfer and signed him to a Designated Player contract through June 2028. The German international comes to Major League Soccer as the biggest...

www.sjearthquakes.com

I know many that watched him in the PL are down on Timo Warner and have written him off but I think he could score a ton of goals in MLS. He had some fantastic seasons in Germany before going to Chelsea. If dropping down a bit in the level of defenders he has to go up against by moving to MLS helps him find his form, look out.

 

[Kenny]

As a Tottenham fan, let me just say I was hoping Werner would end up at RBNJ...

 

[KevinJRogers]

I know many that watched him in the PL are down on Timo Warner and have written him off but I think he could score a ton of goals in MLS. He had some fantastic seasons in Germany before going to Chelsea. If dropping down a bit in the level of defenders he has to go up against by moving to MLS helps him find his form, look out.

He was positively electric in the Bundesliga right after leaving us for Leipzig. And he's still just 29, so he's not worn out. Just needs to find his game again. But if he does, look out indeed.

 

[Shwafta]

James Rodríguez, Minnesota United finalizing deal to bring Colombian star to MLS: Sources

The Colombian superstar appears headed to an unexpected landing spot as he aims to return to form before the World Cup

www.nytimes.com

 

[gbservis]

James Rodríguez, Minnesota United finalizing deal to bring Colombian star to MLS: Sources

The Colombian superstar appears headed to an unexpected landing spot as he aims to return to form before the World Cup

www.nytimes.com

The whole deal is bizarre. It's not a DP contract. One report was that he will only be there until the world cup. James complained multiple times about the cold when he played in Germany but he's going to play in Minn? What is Minn going to do with a playmaker like James in their park the bus and play got a 0-0 draw system?

This is going to be a real interesting one to track to see how things play out.

 

[moogoo]

The whole deal is bizarre. It's not a DP contract. One report was that he will only be there until the world cup. James complained multiple times about the cold when he played in Germany but he's going to play in Minn? What is Minn going to do with a playmaker like James in their park the bus and play got a 0-0 draw system?

This is going to be a real interesting one to track to see how things play out.

that's what i was thinking too, but then I remembered that their coach left to head back to England. Their new coach, promoted from within the organization, must have a different style he wants to play and thinks James can fit in that role in some capacity.

I do wonder if James can handle the cold. He's never done that well in club play but I think he may be motivated to perform so he's prepared for the summer. It will be probably be his last world cup and colombia have a good squad. If he's motivated and the team plays a style that suits him, he could be really effective.

 

[gbservis]

that's what i was thinking too, but then I remembered that their coach left to head back to England. Their new coach, promoted from within the organization, must have a different style he wants to play and thinks James can fit in that role in some capacity.

I do wonder if James can handle the cold. He's never done that well in club play but I think he may be motivated to perform so he's prepared for the summer. It will be probably be his last world cup and colombia have a good squad. If he's motivated and the team plays a style that suits him, he could be really effective.

It will also be interesting to see if James runs into any of the same issues Pirlo had with limitations due to his teammates not having the off ball movement skills to complement his play making abilities.

 

[moogoo]

official now: Minnesota United sign Colombian superstar James Rodríguez | MLSSoccer.com

 

[gbservis]

official now: Minnesota United sign Colombian superstar James Rodríguez | MLSSoccer.com

The 34-year-old midfielder and Colombian national team captain is under contract through June 2026 with an option through December 2026.

It's wild that they signed him for 4 months to start the season. I can't think of another similar situation in professional sports. How is it even going to work from a tactics standpoint, half the season you will have this world class playmaker and then he's just gone? Even if he picks up the option and stays, James it not really know from having a high motivation at the club level.

 

[moogoo]

It's wild that they signed him for 4 months to start the season. I can't think of another similar situation in professional sports. How is it even going to work from a tactics standpoint, half the season you will have this world class playmaker and then he's just gone? Even if he picks up the option and stays, James it not really know from having a high motivation at the club level.

He's simply there to prepare for the wc... Maybe no other team wanted him? Maybe he'll come off the bench as a super sub?

 

[Kenny]

Can’t see this working out well for Minnesota. He won’t like the weather, he won’t want to play on turf, and… he’s pretty much cooked anyway.

I guess its pretty low stakes for them, just four months.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Can’t see this working out well for Minnesota. He won’t like the weather, he won’t want to play on turf, and… he’s pretty much cooked anyway.

I guess its pretty low stakes for them, just four months.

It's also a TAM deal so it's extremely low-risk and if it doesn't work you cut bait in June and move on.

 

[mgarbowski]

It's wild that they signed him for 4 months to start the season. I can't think of another similar situation in professional sports.

It is inconsistent with FIFA regulations.

FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. Article 18, paragraph 2:

The minimum length of a contract shall be from its effective date until the end of the season, while the maximum length of a contract shall be five years. Contracts of any other length shall only be permitted if consistent with national laws.​

I'm not sure how much of an out is provided by that second sentence. I don't even know if it refers to civil labor laws or local country soccer federation laws. If MLS had an exception to this FIFA rule I expect we would have seen it used to sign replacement level stop gap players until summer and then replace them in the more active summer window, but I cannot remember that ever happening.

This rule is part of the Lampard fiasco lore.
First, NYCFC/MC/CFG told us he signed with NYCFC (lie) and was loaned to MCFC for a half Premier League season (lie).
Then when ManC decided to keep him, people asked why MLS would agree to extend the loan.
So CFG had to admit that Lampard had not signed any MLS contract to that point. They claimed he had a half-season contract with Man City (lie) and they were extending it.
But some clever UK sports reporters pointed out first-half-season contracts are illegal. You can of course sign someone for the second half but not the other way round. Only then did CFG admit that Lampard had been signed to a full season contract with Man City the entire time.

It's possible that MLS or US leagues generally are exempt from the FIFA reg under the "consistent with national laws" clause, but I also wonder if, as with Lampard, there is something to the Rodriguez deal we are not being told. Probably less nefarious. Like maybe he is signed to a full year but he and Minnesota have a side letter agreeing to let him out after the World Cup. It might not be enforceable but it's their understanding anyway. The deception would then exist to temper fan expectations.

 

[gbservis]

It is inconsistent with FIFA regulations.

FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. Article 18, paragraph 2:

The minimum length of a contract shall be from its effective date until the end of the season, while the maximum length of a contract shall be five years. Contracts of any other length shall only be permitted if consistent with national laws.​

I'm not sure how much of an out is provided by that second sentence. I don't even know if it refers to civil labor laws or local country soccer federation laws. If MLS had an exception to this FIFA rule I expect we would have seen it used to sign replacement level stop gap players until summer and then replace them in the more active summer window, but I cannot remember that ever happening.

This rule is part of the Lampard fiasco lore.
First, NYCFC/MC/CFG told us he signed with NYCFC (lie) and was loaned to MCFC for a half Premier League season (lie).
Then when ManC decided to keep him, people asked why MLS would agree to extend the loan.
So CFG had to admit that Lampard had not signed any MLS contract to that point. They claimed he had a half-season contract with Man City (lie) and they were extending it.
But some clever UK sports reporters pointed out first-half-season contracts are illegal. You can of course sign someone for the second half but not the other way round. Only then did CFG admit that Lampard had been signed to a full season contract with Man City the entire time.

It's possible that MLS or US leagues generally are exempt from the FIFA reg under the "consistent with national laws" clause, but I also wonder if, as with Lampard, there is something to the Rodriguez deal we are not being told. Probably less nefarious. Like maybe he is signed to a full year but he and Minnesota have a side letter agreeing to let him out after the World Cup. It might not be enforceable but it's their understanding anyway. The deception would then exist to temper fan expectations.

Or Fifa is just going to let them break the rule because it helps drive up hype for the world cup. It's not like the worlds preeminent hybrid soccer governing body and peace prize awarding committee is real concerned with integrity these days.

 

[ZYanksRule]

There is a team option that goes through December, so he's basically under team control for the full season unless they want to let him go. That's probably what makes it a legal contract.

 

[mgarbowski]

There is a team option that goes through December, so he's basically under team control for the full season unless they want to let him go. That's probably what makes it a legal contract.

The official commentary says the rule is designed to provide both players and clubs stability and an ability to plan over a full season. A partial year with club option undermines the player protection aspect of the rule. A player option would do the reverse.

 

[gbservis]

It is a rule of player/labor protection. A partial year with club option undermines the whole purpose of the rule.

What if its a player option? The article doesn't specify who holds the option.

 

[mgarbowski]

What if its a player option? The article doesn't specify who holds the option.

I just revised my post and it addresses this.

 

[gbservis]

The official commentary says the rule is designed to provide both players and clubs stability and an ability to plan over a full season. A partial year with club option undermines the player protection aspect of the rule. A player option would do the reverse.

It's funny to me when professional sports leagues or sports governing organizations have to include rules to protect teams from their own poor choices.

Reading the club side of the rule it's essentially saying its designed to provide clubs stability by preventing them from entering into agreements that would cause their organization instability. We made a rule to protect you from your own near sighted stupidity. It's like the NBA rule that prevents teams from trading their first round draft picks in back to back years because a few teams back in the day foolishly traded year of picks and ruined their future.