New Nashville SC salary data revealed, Aké Loba the second-highest paid player

The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) released the updated 2021 Salary Guide today, which includes players signed after April 15, 2021. Striker Aké Loba, signed as a DP for a club-record $6.8 million, is the second-highest paid player in the squad.

PlayerPositionBase SalaryGuaranteed Compensation
Hany MukhtarM$1,505,000.00$1,505,000.00
Aké LobaF$1,077,000.00$1,318,475.00
David AccamF$975,000.00$1,102,916.00
Walker ZimmermanD$925,000.00$981,050.00
Jhonder CádizF$902,500.00$966,400.00
Miguel NazaritD$700,000.00$894,375.00
Anibal GodoyM$700,000.00$771,667.00
Dax McCartyM$725,000.00$725,000.00
Randall LealM$420,000.00$477,750.00
CJ SapongF$400,000.00$427,778.00
Dan LovitzD$385,000.00$415,556.00
Rodrigo PiñeiroM$250,000.00$347,500.00
Joe WillisG$300,000.00$316,250.00
Dominique BadjiF$300,000.00$306,250.00
Alex MuylM$240,000.00$246,563.00
Abu DanladiF$180,000.00$237,000.00
Dave RomneyD$225,000.00$225,000.00
Jalil AnibabaD$200,000.00$200,000.00
Daniel RíosF$140,000.00$161,500.00
Jack MaherD$115,000.00$149,000.00
Eric MillerD$147,000.00$147,000.00
Dylan NealisD$100,000.00$125,000.00
Taylor WashingtonD$89,513.00$89,513.00
Bryan MeredithG$81,375.00$87,375.00
Matt LaGrassaM$85,444.00$85,444.00
Handwalla BwanaM$85,444.00$85,444.00
Elliot PaniccoG$81,375.00$81,375.00
Brian AnungaM$81,375.00$81,375.00
Alistair JohnstonD$73,079.00$73,079.00
Luke HaakensonM$66,724.00$66,724.00
Nick HindsD$63,547.00$63,547.00
Robert CastellanosD$63,547.00$63,547.00
Irakoze DonasiyanoM-D$63,547.00$63,547.00
Tom JudgeD$63,547.00$63,547.00
Tor SaundersG$63,547.00$63,547.00

Loba, who has played just 285 minutes since signing in early July, is the second highest paid player per minutes played at $4,626. He’s well behind Rodrigo Piñeiro, who’s 16 minutes played net him a whopping $21,719 per minute this season.

Gary Smith discussed Loba’s lack of playing time on the latest Club & Country podcast, saying that Loba’s skill set is more similar to Hany Mukhtar than the other strikers in the squad, and Mukhtar’s MVP-caliber form has made it hard for Smith to give Loba minutes at his expense.

Loba’s compensation is the second most behind mid-season signings, behind only Atlanta United’s Luiz Araújo, who was signed for nearly $12 million, the sixth-largest transfer fee in league history.

You can browse the full salary data here.

Author: Ben Wrightis the Director of Soccer Content and a Senior MLS Contributor for Broadway Sports covering Nashville SC and the US National Team. Previously Ben was the editor and a founder of Speedway Soccer, where he has covered Nashville SC and their time in USL before journeying to Major League Soccer since 2018. Raised in Louisville, KY Ben grew up playing before a knee injury ended his competitive career. When he is not talking soccer he is probably producing music, drinking coffee or hanging out with his wife and kids. Mastodon

Comments

  1. Ake Loba isn’t playing because his game is too similar to HMs? There are what – 7 guys in front of the backline, and we’re to believe Gary Smith can’t figure out how to have an attack that includes his 2 most creative players in that 7 at the same time? I’m not sure I’m buying that….. and who was it that got the assist on Hany’s goal last night?

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