Vancouver Whitecaps FC were North America's top spenders in the transfer market in 2020, according to a recent FIFA report, while five other MLS teams cracked the top 10.
Ahead of the 2020 MLS season, the Whitecaps brought in a number of key contributors. The team dipped into the international market frequently, signing winger Cristian Dajome, midfielder Leonard Owusu and defender Erik Godoy last January, then added midfielder Janio Bikel just before the regular season started. Other additions to the side included left back Cristian Gutierrez and center backs Jasser Khmiri and Ranko Veselinovic, while attacking midfielder David Milinkovic joined on loan from Hull City.
They all joined Vancouver's newest Designated Player, forward Lucas Cavallini, who officially joined the club in December 2019 from Liga MX side Puebla. The spending only helped so much, however, as Vancouver missed the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs and finished ninth in the Western Conference standings.
The other MLS clubs in the top 10 are the Portland Timbers, LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire FC, Sporting Kansas City, and Atlanta United. Just like with the Whitecaps, that spending didn't always produce success, as only two of those six teams (Portland, Sporting) made the playoffs.
The rest of the top 10 was dominated by Liga MX teams, but MLS teams occupied the top four spots. The top 10 in spending can be seen below:
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Portland Timbers
- LA Galaxy
- Chicago Fire
- Club Guadalajara (Mexico)
- Club Tijuana (Mexico)
- Club America (Mexico)
- Tigres UANL (Mexico)
- Sporting Kansas City
- Atlanta United
