MLS SPOTLIGHT] The contract Clint Dempsey signed with MLS to play for the Seattle Sounders makes him the highest-paid player in the league and just one of nine players making more than $1,000,000 a year in guaranteed compensation, according to the salary information released by MLS Players' Union. His guaranteed salary of $5,038,567 is more than double the salary of the next highest-paid American, Landon Donovan.
Dempsey and Donovan are the only Americans making more than $1 million in guaranteed compensation and only two of three Americans who are Designated Players along with Chris Wondolowski.
Graham Zusi (Sporting KC) is now the fourth highest-paid American after having his contract rewritten thanks to the use of MLS's new retention funds.