Thomas Müller. (Photo: Vancouver Whitecaps)

MLS made waves during their summer transfer window, bringing in global superstars like Heung-Min Son, Thomas Müller and Rodrigo De Paul. It’s arguably the most high-profile players the league has brought in within the same window in history, and the trio has already increased the conversation around the league and improved their clubs on the field.

But where does the window rank among the most important transfer windows the league has seen? Here at Soccer America, we’re looking at the highest-impact transfer windows in MLS history.

Honorable mention: summer 2025

This summer certainly will rank among the biggest windows in MLS history. LAFC broke the league’s transfer record to bring in South Korea superstar from Tottenham Hotspur, spending $22 million plus add-ons for the 33-year-old. Not only is he still an elite player – just watch his free kick goal against FC Dallas – but he’s one of the most popular players in the global game and brings with him the attention of much of Asia. Within days of his move to MLS, his LAFC jersey became the highest-selling shirt of any athlete in the world.

That’s not even touching on Thomas Müller, one of the best players in the history of the German national team and a Bayern Munich legend, or Rodrigo De Paul, a World Cup winner with Argentina and a starter for Atletico Madrid. There’s a real chance that this will go down as one of the most important windows ever. It’s far too early to fully judge without seeing them on the pitch more, though.

5. 1996

As a fledgling league, MLS needed to get off the ground quickly and establish superstars to build the league around from the ground floor. The signings made at the start of the league still rank among some of the greatest players ever, and paved the way for what MLS would eventually become. We’re lumping both windows into one today. Maybe it’s cheating, but you don’t start a whole league from scratch every year.