Former Premier League Players Who Have Played In The MLS
The MLS was founded in 1993, just one year after the England Premier League was created. It was launched in a successful bid to host the 1994 World Cup but the league has grown tremendously in popularity over the years and in 2021, soccer surpassed Ice Hockey to become the fourth most popular sports in the United States.
Although the MLS isn’t known for delivering the highest standard of players when compared to the likes of the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga or German Bundesliga, it has attracted several worldwide football stars who have generally ventures to the US towards the end of their careers.
Below, we’ve listed some of the biggest names in football who have featured in the English Premier League and gone on to play in the MLS.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most well-known footballers in the world and has previously played for top clubs such as Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United.
Despite being 40 years of age, Ibrahimovic is still playing at the highest level with currently featuring for Serie A side AC Milan where he has made 60 appearances and has scored 33 goals.
However, after leaving Manchester United in 2018, Ibrahimovic moved to the US to play for MLS team LA Galaxy where he made 58 appearances and scored an impressive 53 goals.
2. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is the Premier Leagues second-highest goalscorer with 208 goals in 491 appearances. He spent much of his career at Manchester United but after a short spell back at his boyhood club Everton, Rooney spent two seasons at MLS club D/C. United.
Rooney made 43 appearances for DC United and scored 23 goals, proving a hit with the fans.
3. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard, now manager of Premier League club Everton, made 609 Premier League appearances throughout his career. A record only beaten by Ryan Giggs and Gareth Barry.
Lampard spent 13 years playing for Chelsea before moving to Manchester City for the 2014/15 season. He then moved to New York City FC in the MLS where he featured in 29 games and scored 15 goals which is very respectable for a midfielder.
4. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry has played for top clubs such as Monaco, Juventus Barcelona and Arsenal and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
After becoming a Premier League legend during his eight-year stint at Arsenal, Henry spent three seasons with La Liga giants Barcelona before moving to New York Red Bulls in 2010 where he spent the next four years.
5. David Beckham
David Beckham has made 115 appearances for England as well as 265 for Manchester United along with seasons spent at Real Madrid, PSG and AC Milan where he ended his playing career.
Prior to Beckham’s move to Milan, he spent five years at MLS side LA Galaxy, making 98 appearances and scoring 18 goals.
Beckham’s move to the US proved to be a life-changing one as in 2014 it was announced that himself along with a group of investors would launch and own new MLS side Inter Miami CF which was established in 2018 and played their first match in 2020.
