There isn't much information on MLS player salaries out there generally, save for the occasional drop from the MLS Players Association. The organization released player salary information Monday morning via their Salary Guide, updating info released earlier this year.
We’ll be looking at the guaranteed compensation instead of base salary to see exactly how much the Galaxy will pay its players. As MLSPA put it, it “includes a player's base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player's contract, including option years.”
The information revealed that the LA Galaxy (27.3M) has the second-highest payroll in the league, only behind Toronto FC (32.2M). The Galaxy has always had one of the most expensive rosters, so this is no surprise. The full list of player salaries can be found here.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some important notes from this release.
Summer splash
The Galaxy added Gaston Brugman, Riqui Puig, and Martín Cáceres during the summer transfer window to help lead LA to a playoff push. Those midseason investments have worked out as LA’ made its first postseason appearance since 2019 but also got great value for each player.
Cáceres, the 35-year-old centerback who arrived in late August, has become a locked-in starter next to Sega Coulibaly and is likely to make Uruguay’s World Cup roster. He made his club debut off the bench in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 4. According to MLSPA, the Uruguayan’s guaranteed compensation is $294,400. Considering the Galaxy has a club option for the ’23 season, he’s been a steal. coach Greg Vanney has praised his composure and leadership in the backline during his time with the Galaxy.
The other Uruguayan on the team, Gaston Brugman, has a salary of $1,409,000. In his 15 starts with LA, he’s proved to be a game-changer on the pitch and compliments the style of play coach Greg Vanney implements. Brugman was signed on Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and given a three-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season with a club option for 2026.
One of the best moves of the summer was the LA Galaxy acquiring Riqui Puig on TAM to a three-and-a-half-year contract until the end of the 2025 regular season. Puig is costing the LA Galaxy $1,695,000; that total makes him the third highest-paid player on the team.
Costa? Costly!
Brazilian winger Douglas Costa has provided four goals and two assists in the MLS regular season. His move to LA was initially a six-month loan from Grêmio and then he would be signed to a one-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2023 regular season as a designated player.
The salary guide initially had Costa’s guaranteed compensation at $5.8 million but then updated the total to $4.5 million later in the day.
That total ranks second highest on the team behind Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ($7.44m) and eighth highest in the league.
When it comes to production on the team, Costa ranks third in goals scored with four and tied for sixth most assist with two in 27 games played. Not much production from the Brazilian but a good playoff run can put his salary numbers out of focus for the time being.
For Kevin Cabral, his $1.6 million salary ranks fourth on the team. He's accumulated just one goal and three assists in 33 games played this season. In 2021, he signed a five-year contract for the Blue, White and Gold. Another designated player with little production for the LA Galaxy.
Top earner
No matter how this season ends, Chicharito will be back for the 2023 MLS season. Since arriving in MLS, the Mexican striker has been among the best-paid players in the league. His base salary of $6 million and guaranteed compensation of $7.4 million is the third highest in MLS behind Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne and Chicago’s Xherdan Shaqiri.
Since Chicharito announced he will be back for next year, he’ll remain of the top earners in the league in 2023. He’s undoubtedly earned that money with his goalscoring form for LA with 11 goals in his last 12 games.
He's also one of the LA Galaxy's regular season all-time leading scorers, and he'll be looking to climb up that rank next season.