MLS salary: Diego Rossi is Columbus Crew's highest paid player, surpassing Cucho Hernandez
The latest MLS Players Association salary guide has revealed that Cucho Hernandez is no longer the highest paid player on the Crew. That title now belongs to Diego Rossi.
According to the data released on Thursday, Rossi is making $3,376,827 in 2024, nearly $700,00 more than he made in his first season with Columbus, after joining the club in August. Hernandez is making $2,886,000, the same salary he had in 2023.
The Crew's three designated players, Rossi, Hernandez and Darlington Nagbe make up over $7 million of the $15,186,365 Columbus is spending this season. The club captain and long-time MLS veteran, Nagbe had a slight pay cut from his 2023 salary, making $1,540,000 compared to the $1,800,000 he earned last year.
Overall, as a club, Columbus spending over $125,000 less than they were at the end of last season ($15,313,747) and has the 21st-largest salary with 24 players, including Keegan Hughes, who is on loan to the USL team, Loudon United.
One of the bigger contracts the Crew were able to get off their book in the offseason was Kevin Molino, who was making $735,367 in 2023. Columbus mutually agreed to terminate Molino's contract, though his buyout amount remains undisclosed. Julian Gressel was also making a high amount for the Crew last season, $930,406, before hitting free agency.
Sean Zawadzki and Mo Farsi have significant jumps in their contracts
Sean Zawadzki and Mo Farsi were two Crew players who signed contract extensions this offseason and have seen jumps in their contracts.
Originally signed to a homegrown player contract, Zawadzki is now making $421,875 compared to the $93,200 he earned in 2023. Farsi's salary went from $74,735 to $380,000.
Columbus Crew salaries for new players
Of the three players the Crew picked up during free agency this offseason, Marino Hinestroza - a U-22 initiative player for Columbus - is making the most with a salary of $574,750. Derrick Jones is earning $347,969 and Nicholas Hagen is making $100,340.
Columbus also signed homegrown players Taha Habroune and Cole Mrowka to first team contracts, and in their first year with the team, Habroune is making $83,401 and Mrowka is earning $91,409.
Columbus Crew 2024 player salaries
Midfielder Diego Rossi: $3,376,827
Forward Cucho Hernandez: $2,886,000
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe: $1,540,000
Defender Steven Moreira: $882,000
Midfielder Aidan Morris: $714,375
Midfielder Yaw Yeboah: $663,750
Forward Marino Hinestroza: $574,750
Defender Yevhen Cheberko: $553,250
Defender Rudy Camacho: $551,000
Forward Christian Ramirez: $495,833
Forward Alex Matan: $483,250
Midfielder Sean Zawadzki: $421,875
Defender Malte Amundsen: $398,700
Defender Mohamed Farsi: $380,000
Midfielder Derrick Jones: $347,969
Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte: $160,603
Defender Will Sands: $131,250
Goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen: $100,340
Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe: $97,105
Midfielder Cole Mrowka: $91,409
Goalkeeper Evan Bush: $89,716
Defender Keegan Hughes: $89,716
Midfielder Taha Habroune: $83,401
Midfielder Max Arfsten: $73,246
2024 MLS team salaries
Here's a look at how much MLS teams are spending on players from most to least:
Inter Miami: $41,679,126
Toronto FC: $31,410,634
Chicago Fire: $25,126,732
Nashville SC: $21,397,303
FC Cincinnati: $18,705,167
Austin FC: $18,408,831
New England Revolution: $18,320,184
Los Angeles Galaxy: $17,931,232
New York New Bulls: $17,111,222
Houston Dynamo: $16,768,222
Atlanta United: $16,663,279
Seattle Sounders: $16,580,599
New York City FC: $16,542,203
Colorado Rapids: $16,328,472
FC Dallas: $16,230,011
D.C. United: $16,171,456
Los Angeles FC: $15,903,820
Sporting Kansas City: $15,874,516
Portland Timbers: $15,367,900
Vancouver Whitecaps: $15,203,269
Columbus Crew: $15,186,365
Orlando City SC: $15,066,500
Minnesota United: $14,907,129
Philadelphia Union: $14,821,159
Charlotte FC: $14,529,129
San Jose Earthquakes: $13,628,412
Real Salt Lake: $13,604,922
CF Montreal: $12,048,038
Sr. Louis SC: $12,015,851
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew: Diego Rossi highest paid player, passes Cucho Hernandez
