Nine former Premier League players who now play in MLS

The past decade has seen a wave of Premier League players make the move across the pond to compete in Major League Soccer.

Here, we take a look at some of the biggest names who have left England’s top-tier and now ply their trade on American shores.

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain is one of the most recognizable names among the players who have made the move from the English Premier League to America’s Major League Soccer. The Argentine striker played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, such as Real Madrid and Chelsea, before signing with Inter Miami in 2020.

His impressive ability to score goals and provide creative link-up play that had made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the world for a time was back for all to see this year, as he scored 16 goals in 28 appearances.

Kieran Gibbs

Kieran Gibbs is an English left-back who became a regular starter for Arsenal before he fell out of favour at the Emirates and joined DC United in 2019, and was part of the team that won the Eastern Conference title.

Currently, he plays for David Beckham-owned Inter Miami.

Christian Fuchs

Fuchs joined Leicester City from Schalke 04 in 2015, winning the Premier League title the following season. The feat was a 5,000/1 long shot on betting sites, including the recommended site on Premier League betting tips, and remains one of the biggest shocks in football history.

After five seasons, he joined Inter Miami CF in 2020, becoming one of the few Austrian players to have ever played in MLS. In July 2021, Fuchs joined USL Championship side Charlotte Independence.

Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato made his EPL debut with Chelsea in 2016. He played for AC Milan, Corinthians and São Paulo FC before coming to the UK. After a disappointing spell in England, he moved to Orlando City SC in 2018 and enjoyed a successful stint with the club.

Orlando announced in December 2022 that they were not in discussions with Pato to renew his contract for the 2023 campaign, but it remains to be seen if he stays or moves elsewhere in the MLS.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Shaqiri is another star attraction who moved from the EPL to MLS. The Swiss international found success with Stoke City and Liverpool, before signing with Chicago Fire in 2022 for a record $6.5m.

He has been an exciting addition to MLS and remains a key player for the Switzerland national team, as seen in Qatar this winter.

DeAndre Yedlin

DeAndre Yedlin is an American right-back who made his EPL debut with Sunderland in 2015, and subsequently made appearances for Newcastle and Galatasaray.

He returned to the US with Inter Miami in February 2022.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale is another household name who swapped European football for America’s top league. The former Tottenham Hotspur superstar made a shock move to Los Angeles FC in 2022 after his contract at Real Madrid expired.

His goal in the 128th minute of the MLS Cup final in 2022 sent the game to penalties, which Los Angeles eventually won.

Javier Hernández

Javier Hernández is another high-profile name who has recently made the jump from England’s top flight to Major League Soccer.

The Mexican international previously played for Premier League giants Manchester United and West Ham before making a move to LA Galaxy in 2020, and at the time was the highest-paid player in the league.

Carlos Vela

Carlos Vela is one of the most well-known players to have made the switch. The Mexican international first made his name in La Liga with Real Sociedad, where he scored 46 goals in 186 appearances before moving to Arsenal FC in 2008. After loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and then Real Sociedad again, Vela eventually joined MLS side Los Angeles FC in 2018.

Since then, the 33-year-old has become one of the most important players in MLS history and enjoyed a stellar 2019 season, during which he scored 34 goals in just 31 appearances.

So, there we have it. These are just some of the many EPL stars who have made the move to America’s Major League Soccer. With so much talent on show, there’s sure to be plenty of exciting action in 2023, so why not take our quiz on how to choose an MLS team to support and get ready for another season of fantastic entertainment!