The South American migration to MLS has continued at a solid pace this winter, with 26 players from nine different countries on the continent joining the league this offseason.
MLS has always had a healthy contingent of South American players, with Argentines, Brazilians and Colombians making a particularly huge stamp on the history of the league. As the league has grown, however, so has its South American footprint. Uruguayans, Paraguayans and Venezuelans had an outsize impact on the league last year, and will likely continue to do so in 2018.
This year’s crop of South American newcomers is also notable for its youth. The oldest of the 26 to sign an MLS deal this winter is 27, and the average age of the group is just 21.7 years of age.
Here’s the full list of South Americans that have moved to MLS this winter, to be updated as additional signings are made:
Argentina
- Franco Escobar, Atlanta United, 22
- Ezequiel Barco, Atlanta United, 18
Milton Valenzuela
- Milton Valenzuela, Columbus Crew SC, 19
- Rodrigo Pacheco, LAFC, 21
- Alejandro Romero "Kaku" Gamarra, New York Red Bulls, 23
- Pablo Ruiz, Real Salt Lake, 19
- Emiliano Amor, Sporting Kansas City, 22
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
- Jesus Medina, New York City FC, 20
- Josue Colman, Orlando City, 19
- Cristhian Paredes, Portland Timbers, 19
Peru
Andy Polo | Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Uruguay
- Diego Rossi, LAFC, 19
- Yeferson Quintana, San Jose Earthquakes, 21
Venezuela
- Jose Hernandez, Atlanta United, 20
- Eduardo Sosa, Columbus Crew SC, 21
- Junior Moreno, D.C. United, 24
- Alejandro Fuenmayor, Houston Dynamo, 21
- Rolf Feltscher, LA Galaxy, 27
- Cristian Casseres, Jr., New York Red Bulls, 18
- Anthony Blondell, Vancouver Whitecaps, 23
