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"Money can't buy you love." That is, in fact, a true saying.
What it can, and should, buy you in the game of soccer is production. At least that's the number one driving factor behind club front offices spending a ridiculous amount of money on player transfers.
That reality is most visible on the global stage, where record-breaking transfers feel like an annual occurrence. In the United States, however, those splashy deals are far less common.
MLS’s salary cap restrictions ensure that “record-breaking” signings come at a fraction of the cost seen in leagues like the English Premier League. The underlying principle, though, remains the same — pay for production, just on a smaller scale.
Production vs Salary
So how did those investments actually pan out? Let’s break down the production San Diego FC’s front office received in year one after betting big on players expected to deliver.
In the chart below, the lowest paid players are to the left. The further right a player is on the chart, the more money he made. Now, the top-to-bottom scale measures non-penalty expected goals + expected goal assists.
DPs Are Worth the Squeeze
Right off the bat, Tyler Heaps and his colleagues can be assured that their designated player investments brought in the most production on offense. Chucky Lozano, having missed time due to injury (and other reasons we won't get into in the article) is about right where he is supposed to be, despite having the highest contract on the team.
Your league MVP front-runner, Anders Dreyer, exists in a stratosphere of his own. Earning $2.1 million annually — the 39th-highest salary in MLS — Dreyer delivered elite value for SDFC. He finished second in the league with 36 combined goals and assists, trailing only Lionel Messi.
How Did the Midfielders Fare?
Onni Valakari and Jeppe Tverskov, both around the $700K annual salaries, played significant roles for SDFC last year. Tverskov captained the team all the way to the Western Conference finals, missing just one match all season. As a defensive midfielder, Tverskov's contributions to the team extend beyond just goals and assists. Nevertheless, he stood out as one of the top contributing players in the forementioned category.
Valakari, who featured in all 34 MLS regular season matches, contributed in a big way. Sometimes playing the false nine role, he featured largely in the offensive side of things as his role demanded such things as: holding the possession in the midfield and driving the ball forward, creating passes into the danger area, and getting on the ball inside the box.
Notable mention: Anibal Godoy - who, at around $400K per year, produced on and off the field. Often mentioned as the most electric player by both, players and staff, Godoy brings a strong veteran presence into the locker room - something that is admired by all players, especially young.
Defense and Etc.
Perhaps the biggest contract value SDFC got outside of Dreyer is Luca Bombino. The young wingback is a perfect example of striking gold. All credit to the San Diego FC scouting department for getting Bombino on a transfer loan from LAFC. Head coach Mikey Varas gave Bombino the opportunity to prove himself and the space to grow.
At $81K annual salary, Bombino was a standout on defense in 2025. It's fair to expect that defenders won't be high on the expected goals and assists category, but Bombino made his case. His three goals and one assist led San Diego defenders in goal contributions.
Marcus Ingvartsen's season did not pan out as expected. The Danish striker was seen as the number nine in Varas' system at the beginning of the season. A slow start to his SDFC campaign was abruptly stopped when he received a leg injury that kept him out most of the season. With five starts and eight appearances, Ingvartsen never found his stride, scoring two goals and earning one assist on the year.
Perhaps what makes Ingvartsen's situation hard to swallow is the fact that he is the third highest paid player on the team at $1.7 million per year, only behind the two DP's. Injuries happen; it's part of the game we all love to watch and play. Ingvartsen will be hoping for a strong 2026 to showcase what he can bring to the table to help this team succeed.
What Does It All Mean?
Big contracts often come with big expectations, and many clubs learn the hard way that money doesn’t always translate into production. In San Diego’s case, the front office largely got it right.
Building a club from the ground up requires striking a careful balance — staying within budget while extracting maximum value from lower-paid players. While no roster is without its variables, SDFC has every reason to be proud of the production delivered by its inaugural squad.
So as the 2026 season looms around the corner, the big question is whether these numbers will carry over — or even grow — or if SDFC will face the kind of sophomore drop-off so common around the league.
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