By KEVIN KOCZWARA
Clint Dempsey hasn’t even stepped onto the field for the Seattle Sounders yet, but he’s already at the top of league when it comes to his salary, which is just above $5 million for the 2013 season, according to the Major League Soccer Player’s Union, which released player salaries for the 2013 season through Aug. 1 on Friday.
Other top earners in Major League Soccer include Robbie Keane, who will earn more than $4 million this year, Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, Obefami Martins, and Marco Di Vaio.
Surprisingly, former USNMT captain Carlos Bocanegra isn’t part of the top-tier paid players. The defender will earn a mere $260,000 for this season, which is less than Chicago’s Bakay Soumare, Columbus’ Chad Marshall, Dallas’ George John and Colorado’s Marvell Wynne.
Here are the highest earners in MLS:
TOP 10 SALARIES IN MLS
1. Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders, $ 5,038,566.50
2. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls $ 4,350,000.00
3. Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy, $4,333,333.33
4. Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls, $3,625,000.00
5. Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy, $2,500,000.00
6. Marco Di Vaio, Montreal Impact, $1,937,508.00
7. Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders, $1,725,000.00
8. Danny Koevermans, Toronto FC, $1,663,323.33
9. Kenny Miller, Vancouver Whitecaps $1,124,992.00
10. David Ferreira, FC Dallas, $730,000.00
(Fredy Montero would be among the top ten based on his salary, but he is currently on loan with Sporting Lisbon, which is paying his salary.)
OTHER NOTABLE SALARIES
Dwayne DeRosario, DC United, $645,333.33
Federico Higuain, Columbus Crew, $604,000.00
Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes,$ 600,000.00
Sherjill MacDonald, Chicacog Fire, $527,125.00
Mike Magee, Chicago Fire, $191,666.67
Edson Buddle, Colorado Rapids, $ 275,000.00
Jose Kleberson, Philadelphia Union, $495,000.00
Sebastian Le Toux, Philadelphia Union, $212,812.50
Diego Valeri, Portland Timbers, $400,000.00
Alvaro Saborio, Real Salt Lake, $453,333.33
Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas, $342,500.00
Eric Hassli, FC Dallas, $262,276.00
Blais Perez, FC Dallas, $324,250.00
Dejan Jakovic, DC United, $303,341.33
Chris Pontius, DC United, $361,000.00
Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy, $282,000.00
Sean Franklin, LA Galaxy, $248,333.33
Ricardo Clark, Houston Dynamo, $ 307,750.00
Brad Davis, houston Dynamo, $372,062.50
Benny Feilhaber, Sporting Kansas City, $312,187.50
Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City, $383,250.00
Jay DeMerit, Vancouver Whitecaps, $ 375,000.00
Allessandro Nesta, Montreal Impact, $305,000.00
Clarence Goodson, San Jose Earthquakes, $342,000.00
Saer Sene, New England Revolution, $211,537.54
Juan Toja, New England Revolution, $295,000.00
Mauro Rosales, Seattle Sounder, $225,000.00
What do you think of the latest figures? Which salary do you consider the most surprising? Who do you seeing the best bargains in the league? The worst?
Share your thoughts below.