Signings Report — Major League Soccer 2022

Quantitative analysis of clubs' accuracy in the market · Published on November 30, 2022
247
Real signings
234
Evaluated
38%
Average hit rate
61
Successful
▲ 5 p.p.
vs 2021 season

We identified 247 real signings for the first-team squad — academy promotions, loan returns and transfers that never went through are excluded. 13 youth investments (under-23) are classified separately. This edition introduces the adjusted hit rate, which statistically weights clubs with few signings to avoid small-sample distortions.

Club Ranking

ClubLeague pos.SigningsEvaluated SuccessfulFairUnsuccessfulRaw %Adjusted %
1Philadelphia Union22200100%50%
2Inter Miami14º161581657%50%
3Los Angeles Galaxy9951361%50%
4Chicago Fire24º8841356%47%
5FC Dallas10941450%44%
6Houston Dynamo25º10723250%44%
7Minnesota United FC11º6622250%43%
8New York City FC4311150%41%
9Atlanta United FC22º8831444%41%
10Seattle Sounders21º3210150%40%
11Austin7730443%40%
12New York Red Bulls7722343%40%
13Orlando City SC13º7621342%40%
14CF Montreal5520340%39%
15Los Angeles FC131334638%38%
16Toronto FC27º111132636%37%
17San Jose Earthquakes26º7721436%37%
18Colorado Rapids17º7612333%36%
19FC Cincinnati9930633%36%
20Nashville SC10º7712429%34%
21Vancouver Whitecaps18º9912622%30%
22Columbus Crew15º7610517%29%
23Portland Timbers16º430030%28%
24DC United28º151414921%28%
25Real Salt Lake12º9911717%27%
26New England Revolution19º101011815%25%
27Charlotte20º2827271820%24%
28Sporting Kansas City23º9902711%24%

The Adjusted % applies Bayesian weighting toward the league average (38%), proportional to the volume of signings — the ranking's official order.

Hit rate by transfer window

WindowSigningsHit rate %
Start-of-season window (Dec-Apr)18037%
Mid-year window (May-Aug)6730%

Season Highlights

PlayerClubPosMinG+ANotaRating
Thiago AlmadaAtlanta United FCM24136+77.46Excellent
Paul ArriolaFC DallasM268410+57.13Excellent
Julián CarranzaPhiladelphia UnionF242215+67.09Excellent
Xherdan ShaqiriChicago FireF22927+67.19Excellent
Facundo TorresOrlando City SCM27019+77.04Excellent
Karol ŚwiderskiCharlotteF233110+47.13Excellent

Methodology

Each evaluated signing is classified into five tiers from a score that combines match ratings, attacking output adjusted for game time, collective contribution and consistency, in comparison with the other players in the competition. Successful signings count as a full point; Fair ones, half a point. Signings without relevant game time are unsuccessful, except for youth investments (under-23) and serious, documented injuries.

Appendix — Signings by club

* Youth investment (under-23, no game time) — outside the calculation.

Atlanta United FC (8 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Thiago Almada29241367Excellent
Ronaldo Cisneros29176371Good
Juan Sánchez Purata17148560Good
Dominic Dwyer2963740Below expectations
Bobby Shuttleworth1756500Did not deliver
Raúl Gudiño1750900Did not deliver
Osvaldo Alonso433700Below expectations
Edwin Mosquera1232802Fair

Austin (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Ruben Gabrielsen35297521Good
Maximiliano Urruti34228790Good
Ethan Finlay36193555Good
Felipe Martins3680912Below expectations
Jhojan Valencia2548501Did not deliver
Emiliano Rigoni937200Below expectations
Washington Corozo55301Did not deliver

CF Montreal (5 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Alistair Johnston36286844Good
Kei Kamara34176197Excellent
Gabriele Corbo36114700Did not deliver
Róbert Orri Þorkelsson2517400Did not deliver
Logan Ketterer2000Did not deliver

Charlotte (28 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Kristijan Kahlina30266000Fair
Karol Świderski292331104Excellent
Guzmán Corujo25208310Good
Christian Fuchs27187630Fair
Joseph Mora31171600Did not deliver
Anton Walkes28167700Did not deliver
Jaylin Lindsey30159701Below expectations
Daniel Rios30142871Fair
Harrison Afful33125700Did not deliver
Orrin McKinze Gaines II.29107914Fair
Kamil Jóźwiak22106903Below expectations
Jordy Alcivar27103611Below expectations
Derrick Jones2786310Did not deliver
Christian Makoun1886100Did not deliver
Yordy Reyna2285233Fair
Andre Shinyashiki2281560Fair
Alan Franco1178801Below expectations
Quinn McNeill1264911Below expectations
Christian Ortíz1764512Fair
Jan Sobociński2139700Did not deliver
Nathan Byrne529400Below expectations
Pablo Sisniega518000Did not deliver
Nuno Santos515610Did not deliver
George Marks *319000Investment
Adam Armour69010Did not deliver
Rick12200Did not deliver
Adrian Zendejas1000Did not deliver
Vinicius Mello0000Did not deliver

Chicago Fire (8 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Rafael Czichos26238230Good
Xherdan Shaqiri29229276Excellent
Chris Mueller24199845Good
Kacper Przybyłko26163451Fair
Jhon Durán30140183Good
Jairo Torres1470200Did not deliver
Spencer Richey289000Did not deliver
Rick1000Did not deliver

Colorado Rapids (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Gyasi Zardes26207892Excellent
Bryan Acosta30192502Fair
Max3492401Did not deliver
Felipe Gutiérrez1285302Fair
Exon Gustavo Vallecilla2358500Did not deliver
Ralph Priso *1519000Investment
Aboubacar Keita0000Did not deliver

Columbus Crew (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Miloš Degenek31226500Below expectations
Cucho Hernández16124992Excellent
James Igbekeme3494900Did not deliver
Yaw Yeboah2882401Did not deliver
William Sands3265501Did not deliver
Jalil Anibaba3223100Did not deliver
Brady Scott *1000Investment

DC United (15 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Taxiarchis Fountas211489121Excellent
Rafael Romo19123100Did not deliver
Bradley Smith16116301Fair
Ravel Morrison1497720Fair
Jackson Hopkins2793901Did not deliver
Martín Rodríguez1591201Below expectations
Michael Estrada1789343Fair
Victor Pálsson1087900Below expectations
David Ochoa1181800Did not deliver
Sami Guediri1881400Did not deliver
Miguel Berry1571500Did not deliver
Christian Benteke756510Fair
Azaad Liadi2800Did not deliver
Rio Hope-Gund *1000Investment
Luis Zamudio2000Did not deliver

FC Cincinnati (9 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Obinna Nwobodo26226402Good
Júnior Moreno29221820Good
John Nelson30122901Did not deliver
Raymon Gaddis30115400Did not deliver
Dominique Badji27114702Below expectations
Matthew Miazga12101820Good
Alec Kann2463000Did not deliver
Sergi Santos1018101Did not deliver
Benjamin Mines0000Did not deliver

FC Dallas (10 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Maarten Paes33298900Good
Marco Farfan33282313Good
Paul Arriola332684105Excellent
Alan Velasco27203775Excellent
Nanu33125102Below expectations
Sebastian Lletget1191214Fair
Joshue Quinonez2112300Did not deliver
Rick1000Did not deliver
Tsiki Ntsabeleng0000Did not deliver
Alec Smir *0000Investment

Houston Dynamo (10 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Steve Clark33293400Good
Sebastián Ferreira332349133Good
Daniel Steres20135121Fair
Þorleifur Úlfarsson31123041Fair
Zeca32115501Did not deliver
Ethan Bartlow3091200Did not deliver
Héctor Herrera1068201Fair
Nelson Quiñones *811800Investment
Micael *14500Investment
Thiago Rodrigues *63100Investment

Inter Miami (16 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Christopher McVey35316511Good
DeAndre Yedlin35311103Good
Jean Mota34278722Excellent
Damion Lowe30248711Good
Robert Taylor34232232Good
Ariel Lassiter31171144Good
Leonardo Campana261606111Excellent
Bryce Duke31151314Fair
Alejandro Pozuelo13106824Excellent
Emerson Rodríguez3456020Did not deliver
Mohammed Adams1436100Did not deliver
Clement Diop1627000Did not deliver
Corentin Jean37801Did not deliver
George Acosta51200Did not deliver
Carlos Santos *3000Investment
Rick1000Did not deliver

Los Angeles FC (13 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Maxime Crépeau36319000Fair
Ilie Sánchez35288810Good
Kellyn Acosta34275724Excellent
Ryan Hollingshead33214461Good
Franco Escobar24117911Fair
Giorgio Chiellini1577101Below expectations
Denis Bouanga967830Fair
Gareth Bale1437220Fair
Jhegson Méndez1624400Did not deliver
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi717220Did not deliver
Doneil Henry1214000Did not deliver
Cristian Tello710300Did not deliver
John McCarthy369000Did not deliver

Los Angeles Galaxy (9 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Marky Delgado31272722Excellent
Raheem Edwards33250013Good
Douglas Costa30157041Good
Gastón Brugman16131931Excellent
Riqui Puig12103132Excellent
Chase Gasper2385100Did not deliver
Martín Cáceres861701Fair
Kelvin Leerdam3148100Did not deliver
Eriq Zavaleta2221600Did not deliver

Minnesota United FC (6 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Kemar Lawrence27232912Good
Bongokuhle Hlongwane29161724Good
Oniel Fisher3264900Did not deliver
Alan Benítez1357312Fair
Mender García954010Fair
Jonathan Gonzalez1020110Below expectations

Nashville SC (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Sean Davis35295311Good
Shaquell Kwame Moore1498301Below expectations
Teal Bunbury1872850Fair
Jacob Shaffelburg953220Fair
Ethan Zubak3123901Did not deliver
Bryan Meredith13000Did not deliver
Josh Bauer15000Did not deliver

New England Revolution (10 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Sebastian Lletget19147224Good
Omar Gonzalez3477200Did not deliver
Jozy Altidore1961710Below expectations
Dylan Borrero1261531Fair
Christian Makoun1237700Did not deliver
Earl Edwards Jr.2536000Did not deliver
Giacomo Vrioni825910Below expectations
Nacho Gil521300Did not deliver
Ben Reveno6100Did not deliver
Clement Diop1000Did not deliver

New York City FC (4 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Thiago Martins30245600Fair
Gabriel Pereira32159393Good
Matías Pellegrini *118000Investment
Rick1000Did not deliver

New York Red Bulls (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Lewis Morgan342735153Excellent
Luquinhas31204653Good
Dylan Nealis33188202Fair
Elias Manoel844621Fair
Ashley Fletcher926300Did not deliver
Serge Ngoma1315520Did not deliver
Tyler Pasher3000Did not deliver

Orlando City SC (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Facundo Torres34270197Excellent
César Araújo32255300Fair
Ercan Kara331895113Good
Jake Mulraney2475000Did not deliver
Iván Angulo1262702Below expectations
Wilder Cartagena1234900Did not deliver
Nicholas Selson Gioacchini *1314800Investment

Philadelphia Union (2 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Julián Carranza332422156Excellent
Mikael Uhre291775134Excellent

Portland Timbers (4 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
David Ayala3376600Did not deliver
Nathan1842620Did not deliver
Juan Mosquera *418800Investment
David Bingham3218600Did not deliver

Real Salt Lake (9 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Sergio Córdova33229491Good
Jasper Loffelsend30164713Fair
Scott Caldwell31138900Did not deliver
Johan Kappelhof2354410Did not deliver
Braian Ojeda635500Below expectations
Diego Luna1733500Did not deliver
Daniel Musovski54200Did not deliver
Chris Kablan72500Did not deliver
Rick1000Did not deliver

San Jose Earthquakes (7 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Jamiro Monteiro31266346Excellent
Ján Greguš34170205Fair
Francisco Calvo13119020Good
Tonhão Rodrigues762700Below expectations
Miguel Trauco313602Did not deliver
Rick2000Did not deliver
Carlos Akapo0000Did not deliver

Seattle Sounders (3 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Albert Rusnák32263930Good
Jackson Ragen31139100Did not deliver
Dylan Teves *2111310Investment

Sporting Kansas City (9 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Logan Ndenbe29182500Did not deliver
Ben Sweat33154003Below expectations
William Agada1394182Fair
Oriol Rosell2791501Did not deliver
Erik Thommy1289031Fair
Marinos Tzionis3286310Below expectations
Kortne Ford2084900Did not deliver
Robert Voloder3377410Did not deliver
Nikola Vujnović1134100Did not deliver

Toronto FC (11 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Jesús Jiménez32234193Excellent
Shane O'Neill32189301Below expectations
Lukas MacNaughton32173300Did not deliver
Luca Petrasso33169502Below expectations
Carlos Salcedo13116100Below expectations
Domenico Criscito14110410Good
Federico Bernardeschi12101771Excellent
Lorenzo Insigne1084651Fair
Mark-Anthony Kaye862701Fair
Doneil Henry1014900Did not deliver
Gregory Ranjitsingh9000Did not deliver

Vancouver Whitecaps (9 signings)

PlayerMatchesMinutesGoalsAssistsRating
Tristan Blackmon29216410Fair
Andrés Cubas18136610Good
Cody Cropper29125901Did not deliver
Pedro Vite31121922Below expectations
Sebastian Berhalter24104500Did not deliver
Julian Gressel1397722Fair
Luis Martins1548000Did not deliver
Alessandro Schöpf934400Did not deliver
Rick2000Did not deliver
Signings Report · Major League Soccer 2022 · November 30, 2022