Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
Transferred to: Club Tijuana (Liga MX)
MLS club: Atlanta United
Position: Center back
Transfer date: Jan. 10, 2020
Reported transfer fee: Unknown
A key stalwart of the early Atlanta United teams, the center back was the subject of a multitude of transfer rumors leading up to the 2020 MLS season, including to Boca Juniors in his native Argentina before Club Tijuana of Liga MX wound up securing his services. It would be a short-lived stay in Liga MX for LGP, however, as he was transferred back to MLS to expansion side Inter Miami CF, where he's become a key part of the team's plans, starting six games in 2020.
Leonardo Bertone
Transferred to: FC Thun (Swiss Super League)
MLS club: FC Cincinnati
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer date: Jan. 13, 2020
Reported transfer fee: "over 100K"
Bertone made his entrance to MLS with a bang last year, scoring FC Cincinnati's first-ever MLS goal in highlight-reel fashion in the club's debut league match against the Seattle Sounders. It wound up as his only goal in 25 appearances, and the 26-year-old would end up heading back to Switzerland to FC Thun in January.
Hector Villalba
Transferred to: Club Libertad (Paraguayan Primera División)
MLS club: Atlanta United
Position: Winger
Transfer date: Jan. 31, 2020
Reported transfer fee: "low seven figures"
Another fixture of the early Five Stripes, Villalba represented another sentimental departure when Atlanta transferred him to Club Libertad in his native Paraguay during the offseason. The 26-year-old had a productive stint in MLS, scoring 21 goals and dishing out 24 assists in 82 games.
Kemar Lawrence
Transferred to: Anderlecht (Jupiler Pro League)
MLS club: New York Red Bulls
Position: Left back
Transfer date: Jan. 31, 2020
Reported transfer fee: $1.25M
A fan favorite for the Red Bulls, Lawrence was sent to Belgian side Anderlecht in January, having stated his desire to test himself in Europe. The 26-year-old was a mainstay during his time with RBNY, starting 113 games from 2015-2019, scoring five goals and dishing out 10 assists. He joined former RBNY teammate Michael Amir Murillo there.
Jefferson Savarino
Transferred to: Atletico Mineiro (Brasileirão Série A)
MLS club: Real Salt Lake
Position: Winger
Transfer date: Feb. 7, 2020
Reported transfer fee: club-record fee "around $2M"
The 23-year-old had 21 goals and 21 assists in three seasons for RSL, showing dynamic traits that earned the club a club-record fee for his services from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro. Savarino had reportedly drawn interest for multiple overseas before the move, including West Ham and Newcastle United.
Ignacio Piatti
Transferred to: San Lorenzo (Argentine Primera División)
MLS club: Montreal Impact
Position: Attacking midfielder
Transfer date: Feb. 10, 2020
Reported transfer fee: Free transfer
One of the most dynamic attackers in MLS history, Piatti's exemplary run with the Impact came to an end in February when he was transferred to San Lorenzo in his native Argentina. He left with one of the best resumes of any player the league has ever seen, racking up 66 goals and 35 assists in 135 games.
Chris Durkin
Transferred to: Sint-Truiden (Jupiler Pro League)
MLS club: D.C. United
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer date: May 7, 2020
Reported transfer fee: $1.1 million fee plus a 25% sell-on fee
The D.C. United Homegrown made 36 first-team appearances, scoring one goal, before he was loaned to Belgian outfit Slint-Truiden a deal that was initially supposed to run through June, 2020. He seems to have found a home for the time being, as it was announced that loan was made permanent in May.
Romario Ibarra
Transferred to: CF Pachuca (Liga MX)
MLS club: Minnesota United
Position: Forward
Transfer date: July 1, 2020
Reported transfer fee: undisclosed
Ibarra never could find his way onto the field consistently for the Loons, which is unfortunate because the 25-year-old Ecuadorian is clearly talented, as evidenced by his move to Liga MX in July. He ended his run in Minnesota with five goals and an assist in 17 games, only six of which he started.
Botond Barath
Transferred to: Budapest Honvéd FC
MLS club: Sporting Kansas City
Position: Center back
Transfer date: July 11, 2020
Reported transfer fee: undisclosed
Barath joined Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2019 season from Honvéd and made 21 regular season appearances, as well as three Concacaf Champions League appearances. The Hungarian hadn't appeared in a match in 2020 when he was transferred back to his original club.
Luis Binks
Transferred to: Bologna
MLS club: Montreal Impact
Position: Center back
Transfer date: Aug. 13, 2020
Reported transfer fee: undisclosed
The Impact center back is a former Tottenham Hotspur youth academy member, and he'll get to test himself again in Europe when he joins Bologna in 2021. For now he remains with the Impact, where he's started 10 games in 2020.
Inbeom Hwang
Transferred to: Rubin Kazan
MLS club: Vancouver Whitecaps
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer date: August 14, 2020
Reported transfer fee: $3 million
Hwang showed his dynamic attacking ability in flashes during his stint with the Whitecaps, but it felt like he never quite got going at full capacity on a middling Vancouver squad. The South Korean international had been open about his desire to test himself overseas, and he's been afforded the opportunity to do so with the August transfer to Rubin Kazan in Russia.
Magnus Eriksson
Transferred to: Djurgårdens IF
MLS club: San Jose Earthquakes
Position: Attacking midfielder
Transfer date: August 21, 2020
Reported transfer fee: undisclosed
Eriksson has been a key cog for the Quakes the past few seasons, putting up 13 goals and 14 assists in 66 games. The winger was moved back to his home country in August, where he joined Djurgårdens in the Swedish top flight.
Pity Martinez
Transferred to:Al-Nassr
MLS club: Atlanta United
Position: Attacking midfielder
Transfer date: Sept. 7, 2020
Reported transfer fee: $18 million
The most lucrative deal of this bunch came from another Atlanta United player, as Martinez was moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for a reported fee of $18 million. It brought an end to an uneven stint in Atlanta for Martinez, who arrived with sky-high expectations from River Plate after winning South American Player of the Year honors. Pity wrapped up his stint in MLS with seven goals and 11 assists in 39 games.
Reggie Cannon
Transferred to: Boavista FC
MLS club: FC Dallas
Position: Right back
Transfer date: Sept. 9, 2020
Reported transfer fee: $3 million
A US men's national team up-and-comer who had said going to Europe was his ultimate goal, Cannon got his wish when FC Dallas came to a deal with Boavista that sends Cannon to Portugal. The 21-year-old is one of USMNT's best young talents at the position, so it will be interesting to follow how his game translates in his first foray overseas.
Zdenek Ondrasek
Transferred to: FC Viktoria Plzeň
MLS club: FC Dallas
Position: Forward
Transfer date: Sept. 13, 2020
Reported transfer fee: undisclosed
The man known as "Kobra" is another beloved fan-favorite on this list, and had been away from the team in recent weeks as he dealt with a family matter. His transfer to Viktoria Plzeň in the Czech Republic was officially announced on Sept. 13, bringing an end to his stint in MLS that saw him put up nine goals and three assists in 22 games.
Alberth Elis
Transferred to: Boavista
MLS Club: Houston Dynamo
Position: Forward
Transfer Date: Sept. 21, 2020
Reported Transfer Fee: Undisclosed
Elis, one of Houston's most potent attacking players, had long been linked with a European move, and it finally came to fruition as he joined former Texas Derby rival Reggie Cannon at Boavista with just months left on his Dynamo contract. "La Pantera" wraps his MLS career with 34 goals and 27 assists in 88 games for the Dynamo. In the big picture, Elis's eventual European transfer could be significant for the next generation of Central American players considering a move to MLS to further their games.
Alexandru Mitrita
Transferred to: Al-Ahli (loan through Jan. 2022 with option to buy)
MLS Club: New York City FC
Position: Midfielder
Transfer Date: Oct. 8, 2020
Reported Transfer Fee: $2 million
Mitrita's move away from NYCFC was borne out of his desire to be closer to his family in Romania as his wife prepares to give birth to their first child. The talented attacker left the club in good form, having scored in each of his last two outings, though his overall time with City was marked by largely streaky play as he put together a few goalscoring runs, but also suffered several long droughts.
Saphir Taider
Transferred to: Al-Ain
MLS Club: Montreal Impact
Position: Midfielder
Transfer Date: Oct. 14, 2020
Reported Transfer Fee: Undisclosed
Taider, an Algerian international, was one of the Impact's most consistent and durable players for the last two-and-a-half years, and his central presence in their will be missed.
Brenden Aaronson
Transferred to: Red Bull Salzburg
MLS Club: Philadelphia Union
Position: Midfielder
Transfer Date: January 1, 2021 (announced Oct. 16, 2020)
Reported Transfer Fee: $6 million (potentially rising to $9 million)
One of the most anticipated transfer of the window finally went official on Friday, with one of the league's brightest prospects confirming a move to join Red Bull Salzburg in January. The move is a big moment for MLS and North American soccer, and the timing will give Aaronson a chance to lead perhaps the best Union team yet to its first silverware.
