In 2013, there were 69 loans involving Major League Soccer players, but the system still sits largely in the shadows. In fact, this past MLS season was the first year intra-league loans were an option for MLS clubs, but not a single club took advantage of such an arrangement.

On the other hand, in many other leagues around the world, these types of loan deals are common. This season in the English Premier League, Tim Howard’s Everton has made quite the splash, competing for a top-four spot, in large part due to the contributions of loan signings Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry—both from other EPL clubs.

With the league growing each year and the MLS academy system starting to produce some real results, the loan system should be a more integral part of league business.

The Success Stories

While high-profile loans remain uncommon in MLS, the 2013 season did see a number of positive examples coming from loans to and from other leagues.

The Portland Timbers' remarkable turnaround this past season was due, in part, to the fantastic play of loan-signing Diego Valeri. In 2013, Valeri contributed 10 goals and 13 assists to the Timbers offense in the regular season, making him a part of 43 percent of the Timbers’ offense. Realizing how important Valeri had become to their success, they signed him to a permanent deal in August.

Another success story in 2013 was Dom Dwyer. Dwyer, who was drafted by Sporting KC in 2012, was loaned to Orlando City in the USL PRO division early in 2013. Dwyer admits he was not happy with the decision, but with Orlando, he scored 15 goals in 13 games and won the league championship.

In fact, his loan was so successful that upon returning to Sporting, Dwyer pushed designated player Claudio Bieler out of the starting XI. Dwyer credited the loan for helping turn his season around, saying that the third-tier league was better preparation than what he had been seeing in MLS’ reserve league:

The Reserve League, guys are competitors and they want to win. But after the game, a lot of guys shrug their shoulders. In the USL, guys want to win every game. It’s the be-all and end-all for most of the guys. That’s how Orlando made me feel, and they made me hungry for it, too. 

The other major success of 2013 was Chris Klute. Klute started with the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserve side, playing games in an amateur league. He was eventually promoted to the Silverbacks' first team, which competes in the North American Soccer League. In late 2012, he went on loan to the Colorado Rapids on a one-year deal.

With Colorado, Klute became so important to the club’s success in 2013 that they signed him permanently. He ended up becoming one of the league leaders in assists, despite playing as a left-back, and even earned a call-up to the United States men’s national team for this year’s January camp.

Off-Season Loans and the USMNT January Camp

In addition to in-season loans between MLS and lower-tier American sides, many MLS players have taken advantage of off-season loans to Europe.

Landon Donovan has had two successful loans stints with Everton (and one unsuccessful one with Bayern Munich) and Clint Dempsey is currently on loan with Fulham.

Some loans have been less successful, such as Omar Gonzalez’ loan to Nurnberg in 2012 (Gonzalez tore his ACL in his first training session with the club). MLS fans will also not be keen to remember the loan stints of David Beckham, which forced him to miss half of the 2009 MLS season and most of the 2010 season.

Many other players have also used MLS’ off-season break to train abroad, but for American players, there is also the possibility of training with the USMNT in January.

Because of MLS’ unique schedule, the U.S. has traditionally used the winter break to get in an extra international camp. In non-World Cup years, many U.S. players have been given the freedom to skip the camp and go abroad, but this year, Clint Dempsey is the only top American player who went abroad—the rest are in camp with the national team.

Room for Improvement

While 17 of MLS’ 19 clubs took advantage of at least one loan deal in 2013 (the Columbus Crew and the New York Red Bulls were the lone exceptions), there is still more that can be done.

There was not a single club that took advantage of the intra-club loan availability in 2013 and the league’s May 6 deadline likely contributed to that fact. Most clubs have only played a handful of games by that point in the season and have no clear idea of their needs (loans coming in) or their excesses (loans going out).

The system is also only currently set up for players under the age of 24. While that seems a perfect way to get more MLS youngsters valuable experience, it is a fairly limited age restriction, especially considering many MLS players still come through the college system and are 22-23 years of age when they enter the league.

There is also some danger in the current system, as not only are there age limitations and an early deadline, but loans cannot be recalled until after the season ends. The lack of recall provisions might make some clubs gun-shy about loaning out players to other MLS clubs, especially if they fear they may need that player later on.

MLS typically moves slowly when it comes to change, but it seems a natural progression to eventually lift all three of these restrictions and make the intra-league loan process easier. As MLS continues to progress, loans should become a more prominent part of everyday business. It promotes player development, helps keep the league strong overall and promotes a more competitive environment.

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As he prepares to join Toronto FC next month, Jermain Defoe's long goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur will continue over the coming weeks in one form or another.

A goal-scoring substitute in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace just over a week ago, it was a watching brief for Defoe as his soon-to-be ex-club beat Swansea City this weekend.

The foreknowledge of the England international's transfer gives us a longer chance than usual to examine the ramifications of such a high-profile move. Or in this instance, reflect upon the path that led to it.

The tale of Defoe's decade since first joining Spurs is in many respects a story of the club's fortunes itself. Arriving as he did, in trying circumstances, and since playing a part in a largely healthy period for the North Londoners.

Accompanied and told through images of some of that journey's significant steps, we take a look back at a memorable 10 years.

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Since its inception in 1996, Major League Soccer has been looked at as a little brother of sorts in comparison to its competitors across the pond.

On one hand, MLS didn’t have the resources and culture to compete with its overseas brethren, as years of history gave leagues all over the world the upper hand.

On the other, the league tried too hard to stand out from those that came before, as the Americanizing of the world’s game was seen by many as soccer suicide.

Finally, the league repeatedly took hand-me-downs from its older, wiser siblings, as players like Thierry Henry, Allessandro Nesta and Rafael Marquez were passed on to the league despite being used goods.

However, a new day is dawning in the American soccer universe, as MLS is finally beginning to attract players that legitimize the league to the rest of the world.

Recent rumors from MLSSoccer.com's Simon Borg linking Barcelona midfielder Xavi to the New York Red Bulls show the league is moving in a different direction: one that involved bringing in the world’s best to ply their trade on American soil.

For years, Xavi has been the midfield maestro of the brilliant Blaugrana, and has shown little signs of slowing down, as he was even named to FIFA’s official team of the year this past week.

At this point in his career, the 33-year-old midfielder is still an elite talent, as Xavi still has the ability to pull strings that few in the world can even see.

While rumors are, as always, simply rumors, New York manager Mike Petke went so far as to address the Xavi discussion this weekend to MLS.com:

You never know with Red Bull. If we feel it's the right fit in the field and Red Bull feel it's the right fit in the marketing sense, then anything can happen. As of now, I don't think we're going to be announcing in the next week that we're going to be signing Xavi or anybody. But it's a player that's coming up on a contract soon. You never know.

RBNY sporting director Andy Roxburgh addressed the rumors as well in Borg's article, saying that Xavi would be “sent from heaven.”

"If we'd ever sign him, I'd just retire. It'd be great," Roxburgh said. "I'd just come and watch him because he's just phenomenal." 

Now, Xavi’s camp has spoken out against speculation of a stateside move to Spanish paper El Mundo Deportivo (h/t Borg), but the rumors alone show the state of MLS.

Even if Xavi’s move never comes to fruition, things are looking up for stateside soccer. The recent acquisitions of Jermain Defoe, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley show international-level players see Major League Soccer as a viable option.

The league still has a long way to go if it hopes to be mentioned in the same breath as its counterparts across the pond. There are still years of work ahead when it comes to making MLS an international threat.

However, Major League Soccer is on the rise, as Europe’s little brother is finally starting to come into his own.

What player would you like to see your favorite team sign? Comment below or tweet @R_Tolmich with your viewpoint!

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The 2014 MLS SuperDraft was held on Thursday in Philadelphia, with the hometown Philadelphia Union and the New England Revolution making the most talked-about moves.

Right off the bat, the Union traded up for the top spot in the draft, selecting University of Connecticut goalkeeper and Jamaican international Andre Blake.

Blake was a highly regarded prospect, coming into the draft as a three-time collegiate All-Conference player and two-time NSCAA All-American.

The issue with the Union taking Blake, and trading up to do so, is that they already have a starting goalkeeper in Zac MacMath, who is only 22 years old and was the Union’s No. 5 pick in the draft only three years ago.

The pick was obviously not a vote of confidence for MacMath, and speculation has already begun that one of the two may be headed to Vancouver (many mock drafts had the Whitecaps taking Blake).

The other big surprise out of the draft was the fact that the New England Revolution picked up both Patrick Mullins and Steve Neumann, although surprisingly not in that order.

Many had projected the Revs picking up Mullins with the fourth pick of the draft (some projected him as the No. 1 pick), but they passed up the two-time Hermann Trophy winner and went with Neumann instead. Neumann has been listed as both a midfielder and a striker and came into the draft as a highly-rated player.

Mullins, who was the NCAA's top-scorer in 2013 and scored 36 goals over his final two seasons at Maryland, was also a highly rated attacker who many thought would go in the top five picks. However, after the Revolution passed on him, he continued to fall. Finally, at pick No. 11, the Revolution made a trade with the Colorado Rapids and selected him.

With Juan Agudelo leaving, the Revolution picked up, arguably, the two most exciting attacking prospects in the draft. Added to players like Kelyn Rowe, Lee Nguyen and Diego Fagundez, the Revolution should be well stocked in 2014.

The Blake-MacMath controversy and New England’s draft coup added some excitement to what many saw as a potentially dull draft. With the expanded use of MLS’ homegrown player rule and the increasing importance of MLS’ academy system, many of the top prospects are now signed directly to their hometown team and no longer enter the draft.

As time progresses, the MLS SuperDraft will continue to lose its importance, but the 2014 draft certainly gave fans plenty to talk about.

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The 2014 MLS SuperDraft started with a bang, as the Philadelphia Union acquired the top overall selection in a trade with D.C. United. By moving up one spot, the Union ensured they could draft goalkeeper Andre Blake.

Even though the draft expanded to four rounds this year, only two took place on the first day of the event. As Joshua Mayers of the Seattle Times points out, teams will make the remaining selections via conference call on Jan. 21.

Here are the draft results from the first two rounds, followed by a recap with reaction to some of the most notable moves and picks.

Round 1 Results

Round 2 Results

Recap and Reaction

Philadelphia's radar must have been locked in on Blake because the Union felt the need to move up one spot to get him rather than risk losing him to another club. After they made the pick, the goalkeeper couldn't even turn his emotions into words, as the team noted:

In a draft class that's a step down from recent years, Blake is one of the players capable of stepping right in to make an instant impact. ESPN Stats & Info points out he also earns the distinction of being the first goalkeeper ever selected No. 1 overall in the MLS draft:

D.C. United already have Bill Hamid in goal, which means moving down brought in the extra allocation money while still allowing the club to grab their main target. It turns out that was Steve Birnbaum, an MLS-ready center-back with plenty of upside.

Birnbaum has good size, which makes him an asset on set pieces both offensively and defensively, and is as steady and reliable as any player in the class. United provided remarks from general manager Dave Kasper, who expects the Cal product to have a long career:

Interestingly, the first selection made with a pick still in possession of its original owner didn't come until No. 7, when the Vancouver Whitecaps selected Andre Lewis. The Jamaican midfielder is a technically promising prospect but needs experience.

Another pick of note came at No. 11 as the New England Revolution moved up one spot to grab Patrick Mullins. He slid a little bit after being viewed as a potential top-five selection heading into the draft, but all that will do is give a player with solid attacking talent extra motivation.

The New England Soccer Journal notes Mullins is a two-time Hermann Trophy winner as the top college soccer player in the country:

One of the most intriguing players in the class, A.J. Cochran, went to the Houston Dynamo with the 16th pick.

A defender with terrific size and strength to match, he has all the physical tools to become a very good center-back. He's still working on the finer points of the position, though, so his development is going to take some time.

Ives Galarcep mentions he does land with a club needing depth at the back, which should help his cause:

The opening round came to a close when the Colorado Rapids selected defender Grant Van De Casteele. Another central defender with good size, the only major question mark is if the Notre Dame star has enough short-area quickness to keep up with top attackers at the MLS level and beyond.

Two of the league's most high-profile clubs, the New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy, finally got into the action in the second round after not having a pick in the first.

New York opted for right-back Chris Duvall. He's an interesting prospect because he has the speed necessary to run up and down the right side to help on the attack. His one-on-one defending still needs work before he can be totally counted on, though.

The Galaxy were up next and took Kyle Venter. The New Mexico center-back is another one of the large group of big central defenders available in the class. He isn't as polished as some of his counterparts taken earlier in the draft but is still a good value pick.

Another potential steal out of Round 2 is Mamadou Diouf, whom the Whitecaps selected. He lacks consistency out of UConn, which isn't uncommon for young players, but he's a great athlete with finishing ability and useful versatility, as he can play as an attacking midfielder or atop the formation.

The Red Bulls' second pick of the round was midfielder Eric Stevenson. He's a developmental prospect with a strong foundation of technical skills. New York will hope he's able to improve his game in MLS.

After a lot of activity early in the draft, things slowed down near the end of the second round. The final selection in the opening half of the event was Adnan Gabeljic by reigning champions Sporting Kansas City.

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The first and second round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft has taken place, with 38 picks over the two rounds being made by the MLS clubs.

Highlights:

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Unlike the NBA or NFL drafts, players drafted out of college in the MLS aren't generally expected to make an instant impact.

Rather, they are drafted for depth and groomed, with the hope being that someday they'll develop into players like Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Brad Guzan, Michael Parkhurst, Maurice Edu, Omar Gonzalez or Matt Besler, among others, all players selected in the SuperDraft.

Yes, some of them may make an instant impact. Yes, certain teams are positioned excellently to add those impact players. But if nothing else, a few MLS teams are in a great position to either find those instant performers or build great depth for the future.

Let's take a closer look at those clubs.

Philadelphia Union

No team is in a better position to improve themselves than the Philadelphia Union. The club has the No. 2 and No. 6 picks and, even better, they are in a position to simply take the best player on the board if they so desire, since they have plenty of positions they could solidify. 

But it sounds like Union manager John Hackworth has a plan in place for the draft, as he told Matthew De George of The Times Herald:

We need to maximize this draft. We need to do a really good job selecting players that we feel can really contribute. We have a couple of positional specific areas where we need to add depth, absolutely. And I think that’s our range of focus right now in looking at this draft and at this draft pool.

If they want to improve defensively, they can take either Steve Birnbaum or Christian Dean (depending on which of the two is available). They could also take talented players who perhaps don't have natural positions like Patrick Mullins or Steve Neumann. The possibilities are limitless and exciting for a Union team that needs a bit of a face-lift.

Sure, the players they add in this draft will likely be depth pieces for the time being. But few teams are in a position like the Union to add a potential key contributor for the future.

New England Revolution

The Revolution are all-in for this draft, as they hold the No. 4, No. 12 and No. 19 picks. They acquired the No. 4 pick after a trade with the Columbus Crew. 

NESN has more on the trade:

The Revolution dealt defender Michael Parkhurst to Columbus on Monday in exchange for the fourth overall pick in Thursday’s draft and allocation money. 

“We certainly value Michael as a player having had him with us six seasons ago, but this trade provided us too much to pass up,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “This deal provides us with a significant amount of flexibility, both for our salary cap and our roster, and allows us to make additional moves to continue improving our roster.” 

The Revolution now have a ton of options. They could package picks to move up in the draft. They could wait to see which player drops to them at No. 4 (I had the Crew taking Maryland forward Schillo Tshuma in my last mock draft, a player who should be available).

If nothing else, the Revolution should be able to add some quality depth in this draft (they also hold a second- and a third-round pick).

Vancouver Whitecaps

Like the Union, the Whitecaps are sitting pretty in the top 10, with the No. 3 and No. 7 picks. And at that No. 3 selection, it seems like a very real possibility that the team can potentially add their keeper of the future, UConn's Andre Blake, to be David Ousted's understudy in the short-term.

And yes, the expectation will be that Ousted is eventually ousted by Blake.

With the No. 7 pick, the team could then look to find a replacement for Lee Young-Pyo, who retired this season. This draft isn't loaded at right-back—and a veteran addition will be required at the position—but one player who might be available and would make sense is Creighton's Eric Miller.

The Whitecaps have very defined needs—they could also add some depth at the attacking midfielder position—and talented players at those positions should be available when they select. Look for the Whitecaps to be rather predictable on draft day.

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Major League Soccer's marquee offseason event will kick off Thursday, Jan. 16 from Philadelphia as the league's 19 franchises look to rebuild and retool for the 2014 season.

There are a handful of stellar prospects available this winter capable of turning teams around, but where they'll wind up remains a mystery. Keep in mind that Thursday's event will feature the first two rounds (38 picks total) of the four-round draft, which will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Here we'll get you set with everything you need to know ahead of Thursday's MLS SuperDraft. 

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014

Start Time: 12 p.m. ET

Location: Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia

Watch: ESPNews

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Breaking Down Draft Order

Top Prospects to Know

Patrick Mullins, F, Maryland

A 21-year-old striker with an incredible nose for goal, Maryland's Patrick Mullins has been one of the most productive and dynamic strikers at the college level in recent years.

Mullins has racked up 36 goals and 18 assists over his past two seasons with the Terrapins, catching the attention of professional scouts, per MLSSoccer.com's Matthew Doyle and Simon Borg:

The two-time MAC Hermann Trophy winner has been scouted so thoroughly that teams have maybe lost sight of how much he does well. He’s always in motion, he’s a predator in the box, and while he’s not a great playmaker from the center forward spot, he’s still pretty good.

While not everyone is sold on his ability to thrive at the next level as an MLS striker, there's no doubt Mullins will have his name called very early on. As the back-to-back Hermann Trophy winner (Best Player in Division I), Mullins has proven to be one of the most promising young talents available this winter.

Andre Blake, GK, Connecticut 

You won't find many experts overlooking Connecticut's Andre Blake this January.

After all, the 23-year-old Jamaica native has displayed tremendous talent and consistency over the past few seasons with the Huskies. In addition to his abilities, Blake appears to have the ideal mindset to make an immediate impact at the next level, per MLSSoccer.com's Simon Borg:

One of my main goals is to start [in MLS]. My first challenge is to try to get on a team, win the No. 1 spot. Play some very good soccer. Make my name in MLS and take it from there.

Borg adds that Blake had an impressive outing at the MLS Player Combine on Jan. 10 and could be one of the rare goalkeepers to be selected in the first round of the SuperDraft.

Steve Birnbaum, D, California

Oddly enough, the two top defensive prospects available this winter were college teammates at Cal. Steve Birnbaum and Christian Dean teamed up in central defense for the Golden Bears and are now set to have their names called in the MLS SuperDraft.

But while both players clearly bring a lot to the table, Birnbaum is no doubt the better prospect of the two right now.

The 22-year-old defender scored 10 goals in 19 starts last season at Cal and has invaluable experience having starred for the Under-18 and Under-20 United States national squads.

In addition to his presence in central defense, Birnbaum's comfort level on the ball as a former midfielder makes him that much more valuable to an MLS franchise looking to bolster its back line.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

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Every MLS franchise has a chance to start anew on Thursday at the 2014 SuperDraft.

The concept of a draft isn't unique to American sports fans, but to foreign soccer fans, it's anathema. The idea that a player would be obligated to move to a team not of his choosing doesn't make any sense, nor does the fact that teams with losing records would be rewarded by having the lowest picks.

But the draft offers a great chance for those teams who had a forgettable 2013 season to hit the reset button in 2014. A couple of key moves here and there, and you can go from worst to first in no time—especially with the unpredictability of the playoffs.

With so many talented players in the draft pool, plenty of teams will receive major upgrades on Thursday and add another piece to the foundation of what they'll hope will provide future success.

Here's a quick preview of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, with the draft order and a couple of key players worth following ahead of Thursday.

When: Thursday, Jan. 16, at 12 p.m. ET

Where: Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Watch: ESPNews

Live Stream: Watch ESPN

SuperDraft Order

Stars to Watch

Andre Blake, GK, Connecticut

Andre Blake has been on the top of the board for many teams for months now. The University of Connecticut goalkeeper has everything you look for in a prospect.

He's listed at 6'4", 175 pounds on the Huskies' website, so size isn't an issue. Blake is a tremendous athlete capable of making the sprawling acrobatic saves.

As Simon Borg of MLSSoccer.com pointed out, Blake has received rave reviews from coaches at the college level:

Blake's dream of becoming a rookie starter in MLS could become a reality if you believe college coaches, who say that he could have been playing in MLS last year (he says he wanted to come out after his sophomore season but the offer didn't materialize). His coach at UConn, Ray Reid, even goes as far to predict he'll be an MLS All-Star.

Goalkeepers in general are undervalued in soccer circles. This is a player who has a much longer period of solid production than outfield players and also comes at a much cheaper price salary-wise. Whoever selects Blake will be getting a rock between the sticks for the next decade.

Christian Dean and Steve Birnbaum, D, California

Rarely are players from the same team chosen in the top five, especially two players who play the same position or positions relatively close to one another. Generally, one player stands out at his teammate's expense.

That isn't a problem for Steve Birnbaum and Christian Dean. Both are projected as top-five picks and could easily go Nos. 1-2.

Birnbaum and Dean formed the spine of what was a tough California Golden Bears defense.

Of the two, Birnbaum is the more polished, while Dean has the higher upside. It will be interesting to see in what order they go and how early they're off the board.

Patrick Mullins, F Maryland

Everybody loves the strikers because they're the ones scoring the goals. Since Patrick Mullins is one of the best forwards on the board, you can't expect that he'll have to wait very long to hear his name called.

Mullins has had a decorated career at Maryland, becoming the seventh player in NCAA history to win back-to-back Hermann awards, the trophy given annually to the best Division I player in the country. He had 19 goals during the season, pushing his career total to 47.

Terrapins coach Sasho Cirovski has no doubt about whether Mullins will be a hit at the next level: "Patrick leaves Maryland as one of the all-time greats," he said, per Joseph Halm of The Times-Picayune. "He is the total package. He improved every year at Maryland. I expect that to continue in MLS."

Borg and Matthew Doyle of MLSSoccer.com also listed Mullins as one of their top-five players from the combine:

The two-time MAC Hermann Trophy winner has been scouted so thoroughly that teams have maybe lost sight of how much he does well. He’s always in motion, he’s a predator in the box, and while he’s not a great playmaker from the center forward spot, he’s still pretty good. Looked the part of an MLS striker on Sunday.

Mullins set the bar extremely high following his success in college, but he has the talent to bang in the goals once he hits MLS.

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On Monday, one week after the rumors started flying on Twitter, Toronto FC and Major League Soccer officially unveiled their newest signing: Michael Bradley.

Bradley’s signing is a massive coup for MLS—though, there are certainly many angles to the signing, including Bradley’s own personal reasons for wanting to move to Toronto and the move’s implications for the United States men’s national team.

Bringing in Quality

Bradley, at 26 years of age, is in the prime of his career.

Nicknamed "Il Generale" in Italy, Bradley has become one of the world’s best midfielders. Last season, he started 29 games for AS Roma, one of the top clubs in the world. And, for the USMNT, ranked 14th in the world by FIFA, Bradley is widely considered the team’s most important player.

Having the power to bring Bradley back to Major League Soccer, only five months after luring back Clint Dempsey (just one year out from his best season in England), says a lot. While there are still plenty of fans and pundits throughout the world who view MLS as a league for players who are past their prime (or even worse, those who never had a prime), it is becoming increasingly clear that the league has its sights set on continuing to increase the level of play.

Transfer Fees

To bring in the best talent, the league has had to prove it has the resources to do so. The transfer fee for Bradley is believed to be about $10 million, slightly higher ($9.3 million) than what Sunderland offered Roma for the American midfielder last summer.

The Dempsey deal, done last August, cost Major League Soccer $9 million, slightly less ($9.6 million) than what Tottenham paid Fulham just one year earlier.

If MLS has the money to compete with the biggest leagues in the transfer world, the sky is the limit.

Salaries

Even though the transfer fees for Bradley and Dempsey are comparative to what the two U.S. stars would have garnered from other European clubs, the big difference for them comes in their annual salaries.

Dempsey’s salary was originally reported be worth $8 million per year (since revised to be between $5 and $7 million), compared to the $7.4 million a year he was making with Tottenham.

Bradley’s move, salary-wise, is even more lucrative. He was believed to be making approximately $1.1 million a year with Roma and will now reportedly earn $6.5 million per year with Toronto FC.

That’s not to say MLS doesn’t have issues with salaries—it does. For example, while Dempsey’s salary is in the multi-millions, his former teammate Eddie Johnson—a top scorer for the league in 2012 and 2013—made a comparatively meager $150,000 in 2013.

However, in football, money makes transfers happen. If the league is willing to shell out the big bucks for the big stars, they will come.

Family Matters

Besides the opportunity to earn comparable money in MLS, an added bonus for American stars is being closer to home. Neither Bradley nor Dempsey are originally from the cities they signed with, but they are certainly much closer to friends and family than they were while living in Europe.

Living abroad certainly represents a unique opportunity to players and their families alike, but the chance to raise one’s children close to relatives and in a country with a familiar language and customs is a strong draw.

Former USMNT and Fulham star Brian McBride was a pioneer in this line of thinking when he moved back to the U.S. in 2008. He decided then that raising his family near home was more important than continuing his career in Europe.

Dempsey discussed similar concerns when talking about his move to Seattle and many have speculated that Bradley felt the same when he decided to return to MLS.

If MLS can be competitive in terms of pay and offer the added incentive of a more family-friendly environment for North American players, it will continue to keep more and more American players home.

Playing Time and National Team Ambitions

It used to be commonly accepted among American players that to truly have a chance to improve one’s game and make a serious run at the U.S. men’s national team, a move abroad was necessary.

That is slowly starting to change.

Landon Donovan is the only key U.S. star to spend the majority of his career in MLS, but over the past year, MLS has begun keeping some of its best talent from moving to Europe.

In 2013, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, representing some of the best talent the U.S. system has to offer, all signed MLS extensions rather than moving abroad. All had opportunities to play in the top four European leagues and all chose to stay home.

Not only does staying home no longer hurt a player’s chances with the national team, it can even help them by offering consistent playing time. Over the past year, Americans like Michael Parkhurst, Joe Corona and Maurice Edu have seen their status with the national team slip due to a lack of consistent playing time with their clubs.

Staying in MLS makes playing time for Americans much more likely, in part, because at home, they are a team’s biggest stars.

Going Forward

The league obviously still has room to grow.

Television ratings this season were disappointing and the quality of play is still inconsistent. While players like Bradley and Dempsey have proved they can hack it in the best leagues in Europe, that remains a doubt for many other players in the league.

Clint Dempsey, who struggled this year with Seattle, has walked right into Fulham’s starting lineup this January without even having a true pre-season to prepare.

Billy Schuler, on the other hand, who would have been a top MLS pick just two years ago, struggled to make an impact in Sweden’s second division and is now returning home.

And numerous other Americans have moved to Europe and struggled.

However, the same can be said of world football stars coming to MLS. Some stars, like Robbie Keane, become the class of the league, while others like Rafa Marquez flop. Still others, like Thierry Henry, produce impressive goals, but fail to make a difference for their team in the playoffs.

Now that the league has once again demonstrated its commitment to bringing home big-name American stars as well as keeping the stars that are already here, the next step will be to bring home its up-and-comers.

Although it won’t likely happen anytime soon, MLS moves for players like Mix Diskerud, Fabian Johnson, Aron Johannsson, Terrence Boyd and Josh Gatt would make a strong statement that the league is committed to becoming the premier venue for American players to showcase their talents.

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