For the second and final time in 2025, the Major League Soccer Players Association released the salaries of all rostered players in the league.
That means we get a new chance to tabulate New York City FC’s payroll and to see which teams and players rank as the salary and payroll leaders around MLS. Spoiler: Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates dominate the spending and salary charts, though there’s a new second-highest paid player in the league behind Messi.
We covered the year’s first batch of MLS player salary data shared in late June here, and now read on for 5 Takeaways from this latest salary
1. The size of that Nico splash
With $3.65 million in guaranteed compensation, Nico Fernández Mercau is now the highest-paid New York City FC player. He’s also NYCFC’s highest earner since David Villa made $5.61 million in guaranteed compensation in 2018, his final season with the club. Nico is the first New York City player up over $3 million in annual compensation since Maxi Moralez earned $3.28 million during the 2021 season.
New York City FC | 2025 Player Salaries
| Name | Pos | Base Salary | Guaranteed Comp | 2024 G Comp | Change | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nico Fernández Mercau | M | $3,650,000 | $3,650,000 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Thiago Martins | D | $1,700,000 | $2,162,000 | $2,462,000 | $-300,000 | -12% |
| 3 | Hannes Wolf | M | $1,400,000 | $1,510,000 | $1,510,000 | $0 | 0% |
| 4 | James Sands* | M | $1,250,000 | $1,318,750 | $1,058,333 | $260,417 | 25% |
| 5 | Talles Magno* | M | $950,000 | $1,065,000 | $1,065,000 | $0 | 0% |
| 6 | Raul Gustavo | D | $720,000 | $812,960 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Alonso Martínez | F | $700,000 | $800,333 | $328,483 | $471,850 | 144% |
| 8 | Andrés Perea | M | $660,000 | $726,500 | $641,500 | $85,000 | 13% |
| 9 | Julián Fernández | F | $660,000 | $724,300 | $628,300 | $96,000 | 15% |
| 10 | Jovan Mijatović* | F | $650,000 | $687,500 | $687,500 | $0 | 0% |
| 11 | Agustín Ojeda | M | $510,000 | $577,833 | $547,833 | $30,000 | 5% |
| 12 | Aiden O’Neill | M | $540,000 | $570,938 | — | — | — |
| 13 | Keaton Parks | M | $400,000 | $530,000 | $1,030,000 | $-500,000 | -49% |
| 14 | Maxi Moralez | M | $480,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $0 | 0% |
| 15 | Matt Freese | GK | $400,000 | $491,677 | $270,000 | $221,677 | 82% |
| 16 | Mitja Ilenič | D | $300,000 | $391,700 | $331,700 | $60,000 | 18% |
| 17 | Strahinja Tanasijević | D | $270,000 | $338,750 | $308,750 | $30,000 | 10% |
| 18 | Justin Haak | M | $200,000 | $265,833 | $165,000 | $100,833 | 61% |
| 19 | Kevin O’Toole | D | $225,000 | $246,667 | $195,833 | $50,834 | 26% |
| 20 | Tayvon Gray | D | $103,992 | $215,492 | $461,500 | $-246,008 | -53% |
| 21 | Maximo Carrizo | M | $104,000 | $137,523 | $123,239 | $14,284 | 12% |
| 22 | Jonny Shore | M | $104,000 | $116,500 | $83,901 | $32,599 | 39% |
| 23 | Drew Baiera | D | $104,000 | $109,936 | $77,337 | $32,599 | 42% |
| 24 | Greg Ranjitsingh† | GK | $104,000 | $104,000 | $172,688 | $-68,688 | -40% |
| 25 | Tomás Romero | GK | $104,000 | $104,000 | $71,401 | $32,599 | 46% |
| 26 | Seymour Reid | F | $80,622 | $95,437 | — | — | — |
| 27 | Jacob Arroyave | M | $80,622 | $93,620 | — | — | — |
| 28 | Zidane Yañez | F | $80,622 | $84,789 | $75,568 | $9,221 | 12% |
| 29 | Nico Cavallo | D | $80,622 | $82,470 | — | — | — |
| 30 | Max Murray | D | $80,622 | $82,470 | — | — | — |
| 31 | Prince Amponsah | D | $80,622 | $80,622 | — | — | — |
| 32 | Malachi Jones | F | $80,622 | $80,622 | $71,401 | $9,221 | 13% |
| 33 | Alex Rando | GK | $80,622 | $80,622 | $71,401 | $9,221 | 13% |
| Total | $13,623,968* | $15,285,794* | – | – | – |
* Not including the salaries of loaned-out players
The Fernández Mercau signing bumped NYCFC’s payroll up from 24th in June to 14th in October, middle of the pack overall but now with one of the league’s highest-paid players – Fernández Mercau also comes in at No 21 on the league-wide compensation leaderboard.
Recently-departed Sporting Director David Lee’s last big acquisition arrived from Elche CF in Spain for NYCFC’s record transfer fee, reportedly $8.4 million, making him one of the most expensive new additions made across all of MLS during this summer’s Secondary Transfer Window.
Fernández Mercau has three goals and one assist in 15 appearances across all competitions since joining NYCFC, and in 12 MLS matches played with Nico, the club has picked up 2.00 points per match (8W-0D-4L).
New York City FC | Payroll by Year
| Year | Guaranteed Comp | MLS # | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,285,794 | 14 | $671,635 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | $14,614,159 | 18 | $3,194,263 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | $11,419,896 | 14 | $-2,613,444 | -18.6% |
| 2022 | $14,033,340 | 7 | $1,796,130 | 14.7% |
| 2021 | $12,237,210 | 7 | $2,916,313 | 31.3% |
| 2020 | $9,320,897 | 10 | $-428,775 | -4.4% |
| 2019 | $9,749,672 | 14 | $-4,124,385 | -29.7% |
| 2018 | $13,874,057 | 4 | $-3,625,068 | -20.7% |
| 2017 | $17,499,125 | 2 | $-3,291,052 | -15.8% |
| 2016 | $20,790,177 | 1 | $3,867,756 | 22.9% |
| 2015 | $16,922,421 | 3 |
Note: Guaranteed Comp does not include players on loan; MLS rank # includes players on loan
2. Little salary difference between Risa, Raul
Birk Risa was one of New York City’s highest earners ($908,250 guaranteed comp) this season, but the Norwegian center-back left to rejoin his former club, Molde FK, in July. New York City replaced the defender with Raul Gustavo, who joins as the fourth-highest earner currently on the roster while taking in slightly less than Risa, $812,960 in guaranteed compensation.
It’s nearly a financial wash between the two left-footed central defenders, though with New York City also paying a transfer fee on top of the salary to bring Raul Gustavo in this summer. Expectations will be high that Raul can become an even more consistent contributor than Risa was during his two-and-a-half seasons in MLS.
3. Back-line bargains, but for how long?
The three players that occupy Nos 18-20 on the latest ranking of NYCFC salaries also happen to be three of the team’s most consistent starters in defense. Justin Haak ($265,833), Kevin O’Toole ($246,667), and Tayvon Gray ($215,492) don’t rank among the team’s compensation leaders but they’ve anchored the back line this season and in recent seasons, and all three are approaching the end of their contracts with New York City. Haak will be a free agent at the end of the season, while O’Toole and Gray each have one option year remaining that could keep them with the club through 2026. Haak started every MLS match for Pascal Jansen and played 98.3% of the minutes available this season, while O’Toole and Gray each got 22 starts and 26 total appearances in the league. They’re cost-efficient contributors now, but the next Sporting Director faces contract conversations to come with this local trio.
4. Messi, Son at the top of MLS
Looking at the bigger MLS-wide salary picture, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami remains the league’s best-paid player, guaranteed to earn over $20 million, though Son Heung-min’s move to LAFC shook up the leaderboard.
Son’s $11.15 in guaranteed compensation puts him at No 2 league-wide, which matches neatly with the league-record $26.5 million transfer fee LAFC paid to bring the South Korean star over from Tottenham Hotspur FC.
MLS | Top 25 Player Salaries
| Name | Club | Pos | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | F | $12,000,000 | $20,446,667 |
| 2 | Heung-min Son | LAFC | F | $10,368,750 | $11,152,852 |
| 3 | Sergio Busquets | Inter Miami | M | $8,499,996 | $8,774,996 |
| 4 | Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United | M | $6,056,000 | $7,871,000 |
| 5 | Hirving Lozano | San Diego FC | F | $6,000,000 | $7,633,333 |
| 6 | Emil Forsberg | NY Red Bulls | M | $5,405,000 | $6,035,625 |
| 7 | Jordi Alba | Inter Miami | D | $6,000,000 | $6,000,000 |
| 8 | Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | M | $5,125,000 | $5,779,688 |
| 9 | Jonathan Bamba | Chicago Fire | F | $5,000,000 | $5,581,806 |
| 10 | Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | F | $3,900,000 | $5,311,667 |
| 11 | Christian Benteke | DC United | F | $4,500,000 | $4,937,500 |
| 12 | Aleksey Miranchuk | Atlanta United | M | $3,600,000 | $4,885,441 |
| 13 | Evander | FC Cincinnati | M | $3,200,000 | $4,736,411 |
| 14 | Carles Gil | New England | M | $4,250,000 | $4,702,083 |
| 15 | Joseph Paintsil | LA Galaxy | F | $3,136,000 | $4,182,000 |
| 16 | Emmanuel Latte Lath | Atlanta United | F | $3,534,546 | $4,030,546 |
| 17 | Luis Muriel | Orlando City SC | F | $2,500,000 | $4,003,333 |
| 18 | Kévin Denkey | FC Cincinnati | F | $3,800,000 | $3,810,000 |
| 19 | Denis Bouanga | LAFC | F | $3,020,000 | $3,709,500 |
| 20 | Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps | M | $3,500,000 | $3,675,000 |
| 21 | Nicolás Fernández Mercau | New York City FC | M | $3,650,000 | $3,650,000 |
| 22 | Jonathan Rodríguez | Portland Timbers | F | $2,775,000 | $3,627,500 |
| 23 | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | M | $1,500,000 | $3,619,320 |
| 24 | Brandon Vazquez | Austin FC | F | $3,200,000 | $3,551,778 |
| 25 | Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting | NY Red Bulls | F | $3,200,000 | $3,530,667 |
Miami has three of the 10 highest-paid players in MLS but two of them, Sergio Busquets (3rd, $8.7 million) and Jordi Alba (7th, $6 million), are retiring at season’s end. The third, Messi, just signed a contract extension that keeps him in MLS with Inter Miami through 2028, and also might change what his top-in-MLS compensation number looks like in 2026.
5. Miami miles ahead in team spending
Having three of the best-paid players in the league while also paying Luis Suárez $1.5 million and Rodrigo De Paul $3.62 million makes it unsurprising to see Inter Miami at the very top of the payroll by club list. It’s also slightly staggering to see a nearly $19 million gap between Miami and the second-biggest spender.
MLS | 2025 Payroll by Club*
| Team | Total Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Miami | $48.97 million |
| 2 | LAFC | $30.1 million |
| 3 | Atlanta United | $28.5 million |
| 4 | FC Cincinnati | $23.2 million |
| 5 | Chicago Fire | $23.1 million |
| 6 | Nashville SC | $22.4 million |
| 7 | Portland Timbers | $22.4 million |
| 8 | LA Galaxy | $22.3 million |
| 9 | San Diego FC | $22.3 million |
| 10 | NY Red Bulls | $22.1 million |
| 11 | Columbus Crew | $19.2 million |
| 12 | New England | $19.1 million |
| 13 | Charlotte FC | $19.0 million |
| 14 | New York City FC | $18.8 million |
| 15 | Seattle Sounders | $18.3 million |
| 16 | Sporting Kansas City | $17.6 million |
| 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps | $17.6 million |
| 18 | San Jose Earthquakes | $17.1 million |
| 19 | St Louis City | $16.9 million |
| 20 | Houston Dynamo | $16.8 million |
| 21 | Orlando City | $16.1 million |
| 22 | Austin FC | $15.7 million |
| 23 | Real Salt Lake | $15.7 million |
| 24 | DC United | $14.9 million |
| 25 | Colorado Rapids | $14.6 million |
| 26 | Minnesota United | $14.5 million |
| 27 | Toronto FC | $13.7 million |
| 28 | Philadelphia Union | $13.4 million |
| 29 | Dallas FC | $13.4 million |
| 30 | CF Montréal | $12.9 million |
| Average | $20.2 million |
* Total payroll includes salaries of loaned-out players
Seven of this season’s top 10 payroll teams made the MLS Cup Playoffs, while two of the three biggest-spending teams to miss the 2025 playoffs – LA Galaxy and NY Red Bulls – played to decide the 2024 MLS Cup only 10 months ago.
Teams like Philadelphia (28th in payroll) and Minnesota (26th) are legit contenders despite modest outlays on their rosters, while Atlanta splashed on expensive talent that majorly disappointed in 2025 and made them one of the least cost-efficient teams in the league, if you compare how much they spent to how many points they earned like our Oliver Strand did in this recent piece.
Oliver Strand
New York City FC went from one of the lowest payrolls in the league – 24th when the June update was released – to back to the middle of the pack at 14th, where they’d also been during the 2023 season, though they slipped back to 18th in 2024.
Now we’ll wait to see if the Nico Fernández Mercau signing and a new Sporting Director replacement for David Lee usher in a new era of increased NYCFC spending that bumps them further up the payroll ranking in 2026 and beyond.
