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.
| Player | Position | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation |
| Hany Mukhtar | M | $1,505,000.00 | $1,505,000.00 |
| Aké Loba | F | $1,077,000.00 | $1,318,475.00 |
| David Accam | F | $975,000.00 | $1,102,916.00 |
| Walker Zimmerman | D | $925,000.00 | $981,050.00 |
| Jhonder Cádiz | F | $902,500.00 | $966,400.00 |
| Miguel Nazarit | D | $700,000.00 | $894,375.00 |
| Anibal Godoy | M | $700,000.00 | $771,667.00 |
| Dax McCarty | M | $725,000.00 | $725,000.00 |
| Randall Leal | M | $420,000.00 | $477,750.00 |
| CJ Sapong | F | $400,000.00 | $427,778.00 |
| Dan Lovitz | D | $385,000.00 | $415,556.00 |
| Rodrigo Piñeiro | M | $250,000.00 | $347,500.00 |
| Joe Willis | G | $300,000.00 | $316,250.00 |
| Dominique Badji | F | $300,000.00 | $306,250.00 |
| Alex Muyl | M | $240,000.00 | $246,563.00 |
| Abu Danladi | F | $180,000.00 | $237,000.00 |
| Dave Romney | D | $225,000.00 | $225,000.00 |
| Jalil Anibaba | D | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 |
| Daniel Ríos | F | $140,000.00 | $161,500.00 |
| Jack Maher | D | $115,000.00 | $149,000.00 |
| Eric Miller | D | $147,000.00 | $147,000.00 |
| Dylan Nealis | D | $100,000.00 | $125,000.00 |
| Taylor Washington | D | $89,513.00 | $89,513.00 |
| Bryan Meredith | G | $81,375.00 | $87,375.00 |
| Matt LaGrassa | M | $85,444.00 | $85,444.00 |
| Handwalla Bwana | M | $85,444.00 | $85,444.00 |
| Elliot Panicco | G | $81,375.00 | $81,375.00 |
| Brian Anunga | M | $81,375.00 | $81,375.00 |
| Alistair Johnston | D | $73,079.00 | $73,079.00 |
| Luke Haakenson | M | $66,724.00 | $66,724.00 |
| Nick Hinds | D | $63,547.00 | $63,547.00 |
| Robert Castellanos | D | $63,547.00 | $63,547.00 |
| Irakoze Donasiyano | M-D | $63,547.00 | $63,547.00 |
| Tom Judge | D | $63,547.00 | $63,547.00 |
| Tor Saunders | G | $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.
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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?