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The summer transfer window for the 2026 MLS season has officially closed, shutting down on Sept. 2 following more than seven weeks of league activity.
It was a thrilling window, coinciding with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home turf and drawing numerous global stars to North America. Some clubs navigated it better than others, securing the missing pieces needed to gain an edge in the fierce playoff race. Meanwhile, certain players finally received the career boosts they had long deserved.
Sports Illustrated breaks down three winners and three losers from this summer's MLS transfer window.
WINNER: New England Revolution
The New England Revolution already possessed one of MLS's finest transitional players and set-piece specialists in Carles Gil, now in his eighth campaign with the club. Even so, they bolstered their attacking options by bringing in English winger Jack Harrison as a Designated Player.
Harrison's return to MLS has been seamless, slotting perfectly into the Revolution's system and racking up six assists across his first five appearances. A former New York City FC fan favorite, Harrison is hitting his peak years and appears to be precisely what New England required to maximize Gil's output and elevate Dor Turgeman as a central striker.
Beyond the attacking reinforcement, securing Matt Turner in goal via a loan extension with a purchase option was shrewd business. The USMNT shot-stopper has been among MLS's finest this year, boasting a 75.7% save percentage and 8.2 goals saved above expected, placing him in the top three among all goalkeepers in both categories.
With those two headline moves, along with the acquisition of U.S. youth national team center back Josh Wynder, it was a window of significant upgrades for the club in Foxborough.
LOSER: Inter Miami
Inter Miami brought in some genuinely impressive players this window, and a case could be made that they belong among the winners across the entire league. No other club could have landed Casemiro without a transfer fee or a DP contract, and few others could attract young talent like Ecuadorian center back prospect Fricio Caicedo. All of that represents solid business for the Herons.
The concern lies in the signing of Paraguayan winger Matías Galarza—further congesting an already-packed midfield—and the departure of versatile fullback and center back Noah Allen, who didn't count against the international player quota and benefited from salary cap discounts as an academy homegrown player.
While Allen wasn't a regular starter when Miami fielded their strongest lineup, his adaptability had earned him the seventh-most minutes on the team this season, and he had developed into a more dangerous presence in transition. Without his 90 MLS appearances and the reliability of a 22-year-old, Miami could find themselves dangerously thin at the back, or potentially short on the composure required to succeed in high-stakes MLS Cup playoff matches.
Fortunately, there's a certain Argentine No. 10 who tends to score enough goals to paper over most cracks.
WINNER: Dejan Joveljić
Dejan Joveljić has been on quite a ride since MLS introduced the cash-for-player trade mechanism. After helping the L.A. Galaxy claim the 2024 MLS Cup, the club moved him on for $4 million to serve as a cornerstone of Sporting Kansas City's rebuilding project.
Just over a year on, and after netting 26 goals in 52 matches for one of MLS's weakest sides, he earned a $6 million move to the Seattle Sounders, with the Rave Green hoping he can spark a turnaround during a historically poor stretch for the franchise.
As an established goalscorer in MLS, Joveljić would have attracted interest from numerous clubs. Nevertheless, he immediately stepped up to a team still in contention for the postseason and the chance to perform in front of one of the league's most passionate fanbases. On top of that, the Sounders are a side capable of creating the kind of chances he thrives on, with a squad that will only strengthen as injured players return.
Will the Serbian striker be a long-term fixture in Seattle? He's contracted through June 2030, and at 27 years old, it certainly looks like he could be central to the club's future plans. In the immediate term, however, he's already found a better fit and wasted no time repaying the Sounders with an exhilarating brace last week.
LOSER: USMNT Talent in MLS
Eight MLS players featured on the U.S. men's national team World Cup roster this summer. Now, following standout MLS campaigns and strong individual showings on football's grandest stage, several of those talents have departed for Europe, leaving just six USMNT roster members still playing in the top tier of American soccer.
Among those who made the move across the Atlantic was former Vancouver Whitecaps FC standout Sebastian Berhalter, whose exit left the Canadian club with a significant void in midfield and a dent in their MLS Cup aspirations. Meanwhile, Max Arfsten said goodbye to Columbus Crew. Both have linked up with former Crew Academy teammate Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough and have made impressive early impressions in the EFL Championship.
MLS also had to bid farewell to several of the USMNT's most exciting young prospects. Zavier Gozo departed after a breakout campaign with Real Salt Lake to join Crystal Palace, while promising fullback Luca Bombino moved from San Diego FC to Stoke City, along with Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn. While it's an encouraging sign for the USMNT to be exporting young talent abroad, it represents a setback for MLS's ambitions of becoming a hub for America's top players.
That said, Toulouse center back Mark McKenzie, who represented the Stars and Stripes this summer, appears set to join the Philadelphia Union ahead of the 2027 sprint season.
WINNER: Nashville SC
Nashville SC hold a commanding lead at the top of the Supporters' Shield standings and still found ways to strengthen this summer. Already armed with a formidable attacking trio of Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza, they brought in Tunisian World Cup winger Elias Saad on loan from Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg — a move that looks to be one of the window's finest.
Operating alongside such quality players, he has already contributed four assists in 450 minutes across all competitions, slotting naturally into the left flank of the potent attack and translating his largely substitute-role Bundesliga experience into MLS as a regular starter.
While adding some depth options might have been a prudent move for manager B.J. Callaghan's side, they will be hoping their four key attacking players stay fit. Even if injuries do strike, they have a cushion of more than three games at the top of the table.
LOSER: Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City are etching their name into the record books for all the wrong reasons. There is a genuine possibility they could set the all-time mark for the worst season in MLS history, having collected just 15 points from their opening 22 matches. While offloading Joveljić to Seattle for $6 million was likely a sensible business decision for future planning, it leaves them a considerably weaker team in the present.
The silver lining is that new majority owner Peter Mallouk appears willing to open the checkbook. The club reportedly pursued Mohamed Salah this summer and will likely be involved in similar high-profile conversations going forward. The critical factor, however, will be making smart investments — and whether a record $18 million outlay on André Luiz from Olympiacos will deliver the level of output they're banking on remains to be seen.
Better days are ahead for Sporting Kansas City. It may simply take some time, and this summer represented the one step back before the expected two steps forward.