MLS Market Values: Young Talents Shine as Veteran Stars Decline

Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti of Red Bull New York see big value increases, while Riqui Puig and Hirving Lozano suffer major drops

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a soccer match, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.The MLS market value updates reveal a league in flux, with young talents rising and veteran stars struggling to maintain their value.San Diego Today

Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 126 Major League Soccer players, with a focus on young talents and new additions to the league. While superstars like Lionel Messi and Heung-min Son remain unchanged, there is significant movement at the top. Toronto FC's Josh Sargent remains the most valuable player, but his value has dropped 10% to €18m. LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig, who has suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, saw his value plummet from €18m to €12m. Meanwhile, Red Bull New York's Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti have seen their values skyrocket, with Hall's increasing by €4m to €5m and Mehmeti's doubling to €3m.

Why it matters

The MLS market value updates provide a snapshot of the league's talent landscape, highlighting the rise of young stars and the decline of established veterans. This information is valuable for fans, teams, and analysts as they track the development of the league and the potential transfer market for its players.

The details

Some of the other notable changes include a 37.5% drop in the value of San Diego FC's Hirving Lozano, who has been suspended by the club, and a 23% increase for Philadelphia Union's 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan, who is set to join Manchester City. Additionally, Inter Miami's new striker Germán Berterame saw his value increase by 41.2% to €12m, while Austin FC's Facundo Torres dropped €3m to €10m.

  • The market value updates were released on April 7, 2026.

The players

Josh Sargent

The most valuable player in MLS, playing for Toronto FC. His market value has dropped 10% to €18m.

Riqui Puig

The LA Galaxy midfielder, who has suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, saw his market value plummet from €18m to €12m.

Julian Hall

The 18-year-old Red Bull New York center-forward, who can also play on the wings, has seen his market value increase by €4m to €5m after scoring 5 goals in 6 MLS games this season.

Adri Mehmeti

The 16-year-old Red Bull New York teammate of Julian Hall, who received his first market value earlier this season and has now seen it increase by 200% to €3m.

Cavan Sullivan

The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder, who is the youngest player in MLS history, has seen his market value increase by 23% to €4.5m ahead of his move to Manchester City.

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What they’re saying

“Sargent had endured a pretty miserable season with Norwich and was set to get downgraded in the latest Championship market value update before his move to Toronto. His numbers had dropped (just eight goals in 25 matches), and after he refused to play in an FA Cup tie against Walsall, he fell out with manager Philippe Clement and was told to train with the U21s. He certainly has favorable attributes as a striker and a market, proved by his switch to the MLS, but his standing in the UK has certainly dropped, and now 26 years of age, he can no longer be considered a young talent.”

— Ben Littlemore, UK market value coordinator

“His downgrade isn't performance-based. Instead, we simply don't know if Puig is ever going to be the same player again after he has suffered back-to-back ACL injuries. The 26-year-old Spaniard has now been shut down for the 2026 season, and when and if he returns won't have played a competitive game for two years.”

— Manuel Veth, Transfermarkt Area Manager North America

“Hall, who spent the winter training with RB Leipzig, has been phenomenal this season. The center-forward, who can also play on both wings, has already scored five goals in six MLS games this year. New head coach Michael Bradley seems to favor young talent, and it seems to pay off in a big way.”

— Manuel Veth, Transfermarkt Area Manager North America

What’s next

The market value updates will continue to be closely watched as the 2026 MLS season progresses, with particular attention on the development of young talents like Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti, as well as the potential recovery of injured stars like Riqui Puig.

The takeaway

The latest MLS market value updates highlight the league's shifting talent landscape, with a new generation of young stars emerging while some established veterans struggle with injuries and off-field issues. This underscores the dynamic nature of the MLS player pool and the importance of identifying and developing promising young talent.