Example of Enhanced MLS Franchise

[1971GreyCup]

🗣️ @AlphonsoDavies: "I'm very happy about my transfer to #FCBayern. As a kid, you dream about this moment and I'm happy it came through. Now it's time to continue working, I have to give everything to make the most of this opportunity." #MiaSanMia

MLS Vancouver Whitecaps just sol Alphonso Davies for $22 million to Bayern Munich. Certainly a material event that has to be considered when valuing a franchise.

[ArgoGabe22]

Good for him and Canadian soccer as a whole. The soccer model is entirely different to any other sport. Imagine if NFL teams put bids in to sign CFL players away.

[ArgoZ]

Considering the Whitecaps team salary is around 7 million, they just sold one player for 3 times that price. Good ROI there!

[AngeloV]

Good for him and Canadian soccer as a whole. The soccer model is entirely different to any other sport. Imagine if NFL teams put bids in to sign CFL players away.

It would do nothing to help the perception of the league. I realize that transfer fees are paid all over Europe in soccer, but when a good young player basically gets sold to another league, how does this give MLS the perception of actually being a major league?

[PullTogether73]

It would do nothing to help the perception of the league. I realize that transfer fees are paid all over Europe in soccer, but when a good young player basically gets sold to another league, how does this give MLS the perception of actually being a major league?

It does help the perception of the Whitecaps at least.
Local boy, raised and trained in Canada, spotted by Whitecaps and drafted to their development team, then moved up to the big club, then "bought" (ugh!) by the top team in the Bundesliga.

[ArgoZ]

Perception should be that MLS is minor league. As soon as a young talent begins to develop, he's scooped up by some top tier league in Europe.

[ArgoGabe22]

Perception should be that MLS is minor league. As soon as a young talent begins to develop, he's scooped up by some top tier league in Europe.

Except no one in Europe cares when say a top tier club buys from a lower tier club. It happens all the time. I guess in North America, everything has to be seen as #1.

[PullTogether73]

Perception should be that MLS is minor league. As soon as a young talent begins to develop, he's scooped up by some top tier league in Europe.

Um, the pay difference between the leagues might have something to do with it.

And even between top tier leagues this stuff happens.
How long before Harry Kane is "bought" by an elite team like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, ...?
Apparently Tottenham Hotspur is not an elite team, even though they are a traditional fixture in the Premier League table and have done very well over the past few years.

This has more to do with the overall structure of professional soccer than MLS as a minor league.

[ArgoZ]

I'm most familiar with the world of footy. When you sell one of your players for 3 times your payroll, it's a reminder how far down the soccer pole you are.