2025 MLS Salaries Released
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Major League Soccer Players Association has released player salary data for the first time in 2025. The Houston Dynamo have the 4th lowest total salary at $13,414,691. You can see all the salary data here. Via Tom Bogert’s salary breakdown, the Dynamo have invested more in transfer fees than salary. Let’s take a look at the Dynamo players and where the club is spending money. All salary figures are in guaranteed compensation.
Goalkeepers
Jonathan Bond - $459,704
Blake Gillingham - $80,622
Jimmy Maurer - $200,000
Andrew Tarbell - $430,000
The Dynamo have had to roster four goalkeepers this season because of injuries. Bond now makes the most of the group but is proving his worth since taking over the starting job.
Defenders
Femi Awodesu - $89,089
Ethan Bartlow - $275,000
Griffin Dorsey - $594,667
Franco Escobar - $599,167
Michael Halliday - $277,500
Pablo Ortiz - $443,400
Kieran Sargeant - $106,193
Daniel Steres - $323,438
Erik Sviatchenko - $825,000
Houston has some money invested in their back line. Dorsey, Escobar, and Sviatchenko all make over half a million and new signing Ortiz is just under that. Awodesu is still on a very cap friendly deal as a young player and Sargeant is out on loan this season.
Midfielders
Artur - $893,375
Amine Bassi - $700,000
Erik Dueñas - $170,625
Duane Holmes - $378,000
Sebastian Kowalczyk - $594,618
Ondrej Lingr - $844,043
Nicolas Lodeiro - $200,000
Jack McGlynn - $292,033
Sebastian Rodriguez - $89,272
Junior Urso - $123,533
Jefferson Valverde - $291,657
McGlynn on less than 300k may be one of the best bargains in Major League Soccer. It is also another reason he will likely be in Europe soon, for a big payday for the club and himself. Lingr and Artur are on Designated Player level salaries but can be brought down under that. Valverde is gone but still showing on the Dynamo’s salary books. Bassi and Kowalczyk are both on TAM deals, but are they producing to that level?
Attackers
Stephen Annor - $103,750
Exon Arzu - $108,598
Lawrence Ennali - $549,250
Ezequiel Ponce - $2,852,200
Nelson Quiñones - $272,894
Gabe Segal - $104,000
Ponce is the only player making over a million dollars, at close to three million. He is the only Designated Player that can’t be bought off that tag. Ennali and Quiñones are on U22 deals, along with McGlynn. The other young players are just that, and making a low amount in relation to the rest of the roster.
As the summer transfer window approaches, the Dynamo have the ability to make some big moves and spend some money. They have one, and possibly two, Designated Player spots that can be used. If they use one DP spot they can also add another U22. Let us know what you think of the salaries and what you think the team should do this summer on our social media channels, @BayouCitySoccer.