GOAL looks at which teams got better and which left a lot to be desired this summer
Major League Soccer's summer transfer window is officially closed, and even by the league's standards, this was a wild one. For a league that has built a reputation for attracting star power, there was plenty to go around this summer. There were also plenty of more under-the-radar moves that made teams significantly better as the push to MLS Cup really gets going.
From a returning U.S. men's national team rising star to international icons, MLS attracted plenty of names this summer. The league's all-time transfer record was broken by Los Angeles FC – with the move costing $26 million – but there were plenty of other millions tossed around by other teams, too.
With the wheeling and dealing now officially over, GOAL takes a look at this summer's big winners and, just as importantly, this summer's big losers…
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWinner: Colorado Rapids
The moment that the Djordje Mihailovic sale went through, it was expected the Rapids would take a big swing. Despite not being a classic big-market club, the Rapids have been an ambitious team over the past two seasons. It is a club that is willing to make the right move at the right time, particularly for an American star that can be built up within their own system.
That move, ultimately, was Paxten Aaronson, and it was a shocking one to say the least. In Aaronson, the Rapids signed a future USMNT star, one who certainly had the talent to stay in Europe.
Aaronson's decision to leave Eintracht Frankfurt and come back to MLS will be dissected for years to come, particularly as it relates to next summer's World Cup. For the Rapids, though, it was a no-brainer. Here is a marketable, young, talented rising American star, one who just waltzed through the Eredivisie on loan and looked more than capable of playing at a higher level in Europe. Reports indicated that Aaronson had options at Southampton, RB Salzburg, and back in the Bundesliga. Instead, he came home.
A controversial move for him, but an easy one for the Rapids. Now, the only question is how Aaronson handles the pressure of going from a youngster in Germany to the guy in Colorado.
AdvertisementAFPLoser: New York Red Bulls
Through the whole summer, it looked like Timo Werner or bust. In the end, it was bust.
The Red Bulls were prepared to take a big swing, so credit to them, but it turned out there was no real backup plan when that swing didn't work out. Make no mistake: Werner – who plays for Red Bull Leipzig – would have been the biggest signing this team had made since Thierry Henry. Instead, the only forward help the club brought in was teenage striker Andy Rojas from Herediano. No disrespect to him, but he isn't at the level of Werner.
So, heading down the stretch, the Red Bulls missed another opportunity to bring a game-changing striker. Maybe next year.
Getty ImagesWinner: LAFC
The biggest signing of the window, bar none. The arrival of Son Heung-min is a game-changer, not just off the field but also on it.
Son has already made an instant impact with LAFC, turning their attack into a real monster with Denis Bouanga also out there to terrorize defenses. These are the type of players that can win you an MLS Cup. Most teams want one superstar player. LAFC now have two. Credit to them, too, for pivoting off the Olivier Giroud situation when the time was right, and not just pivoting, but also ending up with a better player.
Add in the signings of veteran Ryan Porteous and young Irish international Andrew Moran, and Steve Cherundolo's side had an incredible transfer window for a team that probably went from "very good" to "great."
Getty Images SportLoser: San Diego FC
They're on pace to be the best expansion team in MLS history. By the end of this, they may just win the Supporters' Shield. Did they miss a chance to solidify all of that, though?
They lost Milan Iloski, who was putting up Golden Boot numbers, and that loss could prove to be a crushing blow. Sure, they went out and got some youngsters in David Vazquez, Aiden Harangi, Leo Duru, and Pedro Soma to go with veteran Corey Baird, but it's hard not to notice that this team is severely lacking a real match-winner up top. Baird is a good striker, but not an elite one. Will that ultimately be their undoing?
MLS Playoff history tells us that the answer to that question is "almost certainly". San Diego are clearly building for the future, but based on their spot in the table, they could have also built for the now.
