Major League Soccer says 2026 has been a banner year for player transfers, with teams hitting new highs in both buying and selling top talent. The league says its 30 clubs spent a record US$370 million to bring in players and generated another record of $218 million in transfer revenue. Toronto FC added to the total in March when the club picked up Josh Sargent from England’s Norwich City on a deal that could be worth up to $27 million with add-ons. The 26-year-old American striker has seven goals and two assists across 16 regular-season games for a Toronto (5-7-11) side that sits two points below the playoff bar in the Eastern Conference standings. Teams across the league have brought in 30 players with FIFA World Cup experience in 2026, including 20 who played in this summer’s tournament. Two defenders from Canada’s national squad found new homes with MLS clubs last week, with Real Salt Lake acquiring Luc de Fougerolles and the Portland Timbers picking up Joel Waterman. De Fougerolles joins RSL on loan from English Premier League side Fulham through the 2026 season with an option for MLS’s condensed 2027 campaign. The 20-year-old centre back helped Canada make history this summer, playing in all five games before the country was ousted in the round of 16 by Morocco. Portland got Waterman from the Chicago Fire for $100,000 in general allocation money, plus up to $100,000 in additional general allocation money if undisclosed criteria are met. He joins the Timbers through 2027 with an option for 2028. Hailing from Aldergrove, B.C., the 30-year-old defender was part of Canada’s 2022 and 2026 World Cup teams, and previously spent six seasons with CF Montreal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2026. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
