As All-Star selections proved, MLS provides an ideal environment for Europeans in mid-20s to discover their best soccer

Philip Zinckernagel told his wife this would be the last time. His list of former destinations reads like the ads on the wall of a European travel agent’s office: Copenhagen, Helsingor, London, the Arctic Circle, the central England countryside, Athens, Liege, Bruges.

At each stop, the Danish attacking midfielder had signed a long-term contract, expecting an extended stay. Yet at each spot, he was out within 2 years. This time, he promised, things would be different.

“I’ve been moving around a lot, so I have a bit of practice at getting into new teams and settling down quickly. I promised my wife, this is the one we're going to stay at,” he told GOAL.

This time, he is in Chicago, landing in MLS at age 30, brought in as the Fire’s highly-paid TAM signing. But he is not alone in his profile as a player in Major League Soccer.

While the big-money, bigger-name stars who have played their craft at one club for years – think Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Marco Reus – tend to grab the headlines, the more consistent European quality in the league comes from a multitude of Zinckernagels, journeymen talent that have never found a permanent home on the continent.

“I think it's great. It is great to see a lot of European players want to come to MLS, now it's a very attractive League,” Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar said.

Imagn'A great place for us'

It’s a smart segment to target for MLS clubs. Big-name designated players are expensive, generally older, and often come with big demands on short-term contracts. Academy talent is not quite ready – or might be sold off to Europe. The American college system is drying up. And although South America is certainly one frontier, there are plenty of Europeans heading into their prime at the right value to target from across the pond.

In fact, they have made up a fair portion of MLS All-Star rosters in recent years. The 2025 squad featured seven players who had practiced their craft at multiple European clubs before moving to the U.S. in their prime years. In 2024, five of a similar profile represented MLS. Four were named in 2024, including Maarten Paes, Mukhtar, Ryan Gauld and Evander.

Bigger signings, in recent years, have come from similar areas. Kevin Denkey was briefly the largest outlay in MLS history when FC Cincinnati signed him last winter. The Togo international starred in the Belgian League.

Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar were significant expenditures for Nashville. Alexey Miranchuk and Hugo Cuypers were among the more expensive signings in league history – and have, for the most part, justified their price tags.

“This is a great place for us right now. And it’s been working out well so far,” Zinckernagel said.

AdvertisementGetty Images'I spoke to some of the Danish guys about it'

Dig a little deeper, and the reality of MLS player acquisition is that it relies heavily on worldwide networks, conversations between players, and WhatsApp messages among teammates. Such was the case for San Diego’s Anders Dreyer. He was 27, and had eight different clubs on his resume.

Dreyer was unsure. He had enjoyed two successful years at Anderlecht and was named the team’s player of the season in 2024. And with two years left on his contract, he figured to stay for the foreseeable future. But an MLS offer came, and he energized his soccer-playing network.

“I knew quite a lot before coming over here… I spoke with Evander about it. I spoke to some of the Danish guys about it. For me, it was a no brainer, in the end,” Dreyer said.

It has worked, too. Chucky Lozano might grab the headlines for San Diego, but Dreyer is the heartbeat of the side, an All-Star, and has nine goals through the first half of the season.

Imagn'I didn’t know whereabouts Nashville was'

Sam Surridge knows the struggle, too. The Nashville forward started his career at the Bournemouth academy, but, like many in the English football pyramid, struggled to find a permanent home. Stops at Weymouth, Poole, Yeovil, Olham, Swansea, Stoke and, most recently, Nottingham Forest, meant that a career that had once included a flirtation with the English youth national teams was going awry.

He reached out to a few friends, and after Nashville pitched their project, he was sold. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t point to the city on a map, or didn’t have a clue what state they played in.

“I can't lie. I didn't know whereabouts it was,” he admitted. “Obviously, I've heard of Nashville. But yeah, it's been, it's an amazing city.”

The appeal of a new league, a new challenge, at the right age, was very apparent.

“Nashville came to me and was just a really exciting project,” he said. “And I felt like it was a growing League. There's more people that have joined since I've been here as well.”

And after making the move, he, too, became a reference point for some who are looking for a shift abroad.

“I do get a lot of messages from people I played with asking what it's like,” Surridge said. “And I think there's a lot of players that maybe wish they came out, or want to come out, and it's not as easy these days.”

Getty Images Sport'I want you to be the face of our club'

Hany Mukhtar didn’t know what to expect. He was recruited by Hertha Berlin at 7, and after struggling to break into the first team, was sold to Benfica for just $750,000.

The Portuguese giants didn’t have room for him, either, and sent him on loan twice – first to RB Salzburg and then Brondby. He signed a four-year contract with the latter club, and made a fine career in the Danish league. At 24, there figured to be time for him to enjoy further success in Denmark, or even make a step back up to a top-five European league.

But then, the Nashville pitch came in. They were entering the league as an expansion franchise in 2020, and wanted Mukhtar to be their star.

He was confused – mostly because the team hadn’t kicked a ball yet.

“I talked to the GM,” he said, “and they were talking about their plans, bringing me into Nashville. He said ‘Hey, I want you to be the face of our club. I want you to be the guy on our team.’ It was funny, because I was the first DP and it was a completely different approach to what we were used to.”

But the appeal – and the trust – of having a team built around him, was enough of an attraction.

“You have these people who are planning the franchise, who are planning a club, and they see you as a big part of it,” Mukhtar said. “This is a huge honor that gives you even more motivation to work harder.”