MLS summer transfer window closed: How did the top teams in the East do?
- Brian Maurer
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Brian Maurer
The summer transfer window officially closed last Wednesday night. Free agents can still be signed into October, but most of the big moves are now done. It was a wild window full of several big-name players transferring stateside as well as many big names moving within the league. This included a record intraleague cash transfer when St. Louis City paid $12m plus add-ons for Colorado Rapids' star striker Rafael Navarro.
Many of the top teams in the Eastern Conference all made summer moves as they push for a postseason run. Here's a look at notable moves the top teams in the East made during the latest summer window:
Nashville SC
Elias Saad - We talked about Elias Saad on the last transfer tracker, but we have now seen him operate in MLS for several games now and he has been productive on a team pushing for the MLS points record. Since he is a loan with a purchase option, it looks like Nashville is playing the game of keeping him on a TAM deal until the winter or beyond, when it is rumored roster rules might be loosened.
Famara Camara - The 21-year-old Senegalese midfield prospect has made one Leagues Cup appearance so far and enters a crowded midfield room in Nashville. This move is another longer-term play by the Coyotes as he is signed through 2029.
Outgoing moves:
Nashville clearly looked to get some of their prospects minutes as they moved several younger players out on loan this summer to try and get them reps.
F - Adem Sipic (7/21/26 - loan to Gefle IF)
F - Woobens Pacius (8/17/26 - transfer to FC Rouen 1899)
M - Charles-Emile Brunet (9/2/26 - loan to St. Louis CITY SC)
D - Chris Applewhite (9/2/26 - loan to Austin FC)
Inter Miami
Casemiro - The Brazilian star joined Inter Miami earlier this summer and has made an immediate impact in the midfield as expected.
Riquelme Fillipi - Miami continues to look for young up and coming South American stars and Riquelme Fillipi is the latest incoming signing that fits this strategy. The Brazilian winger has gotten reps in the with Brazil's youth system, representing the country during the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.
Outgoing moves:
Miami, like Nashville looked to get some of their younger players moves, and helped Benjamin Cremaschi earn a full transfer abroad.
M - Benjamin Cremaschi (6/27/26 - transfer to Parma Calcio 1913)
D - Tomas Aviles (7/16/26 - loan to O'Higgins)
M - David Ruiz (9/2/26 - loan to Red Bull New York)
D - Noah Allen (9/3/26 - loan to Chicago Fire)
Chicago Fire
Robert Lewandowski - A big-time star signing we have already touched on, and on the field, he is already making an impact for the Fire.
New additions to midfield and backline - As the transfer window came to a close, the Fire added multiple new pieces to their midfield and backline. The most recognizable name is the addition of Noah Allen from Inter Miami.
M - Anzor Mekvabishvili (9/1/26 - transfer from Universitatea Craiova)
D - Andreas Hanche-Olsen (9/1/26 - transfer from Mainz 05)
M - Johan Gomez (9/2/26 - transfer from Eintracht Braunschweig)
D - Noah Allen (9/3/26 - loan from Inter Miami CF)
Outgoing moves:
Chicago used the summer window to open space for their new summer additions. Hugo Cuypers was transferred to make room for Lewandowski and Joel Waterman looks to have been moved to make room for some of their new defensive additions. They also got some of their younger prospects loan moves to get some minutes.
F - Hugo Cuypers (7/23/26 - transfer to CF Monterrey)
D - Christopher Cupps (8/24/26 - loan to Greenock Morton FC)
D - Viktor Radojevic (9/2/26 - loan to CF Montréal)
F - Jason Shokalook (9/2/26 - trade to Real Salt Lake)
D - Joel Waterman (9/3/26 - trade to Portland Timbers)
M - Dylan Borso (9/3/26 - loan to Greenock Morton FC)
New England Revolution
Jack Harrison - Another name we briefly talked about last time around but we have now seen him make an impact in the Revolution's starting lineup. It looks like Carles Gil has found some creative support in the final third with this addition.
Daniel Gazdag - The midfielder was a swing and a miss when he moved to the Columbus Crew. He still has big-time MLS goals on his resume from his time in Philadelphia and since he slots into the roster as a non-DP this is a lower risk move with potential for some big boom reward for New England.
Joshua Wynder - The center back was added on loan on the final day of the transfer window and is another low risk swing New England is taking. The Revs first year Head Coach Marko Mitrovic is coached at the US U20 level and is familiar with Wynder and has already made similar moves to this with his time in New England. USYNT prospects looking for minutes fits the bill for the direction New England is heading.
Outgoing moves:
New England, like many of the top teams in East found loan moves for some of their younger prospects. They also moved Ceballos earlier in the window which helped make room for competition with recent addition of Wynder.
F - Malcolm Fry (7/16/26 - loan to Lexington SC)
D - Brayan Ceballos (7/24/26 - trade to CF Montréal)
M - Allan Oyirwoth (8/7/26 - loan to Dunfermline Athletic FC)
M - Eric Klein (8/14/26 - loan to Rhode Island FC)
Charlotte FC
Allan Saint-Maximin - Another move we knew early in the window and the star winger has already made an impact. Excitement abounds as the Frenchmen looks to have slotted in quickly.
Outgoing moves:
No agreement with Wilfried Zaha could be reached which led to the Allan Saint-Maximin move. While the club made a good figure on the Kerwin Vargas move the club has opted to keep those minutes for those already within the club.
F - Wilfried Zaha (5/24/26 - loan expiration)
F - Kerwin Vargas (7/31/26 - transfer to Athletico Paranaense)
