This offseason, Major League Soccer saw a very focused, purposeful and progressive shift in transfer approach: get younger.
Whereas in previous years clubs have looked to use the three Designated Player slots to sign big-name European stars who are nearing the end of their playing careers, this year, teams have seen the success of the likes of Atlanta United and Los Angeles FC and made a concerted effort to sign younger DPs.
As greater investment has swept through MLS at an unseen rate, several teams breaking their transfer records to add new talent, many of which were previously hesitant to spend at such a substantial level, and the fear of sales has been eradicated with a broader, wide-eyed perspective that now embraces the buy-and-sell market of the global sport, the shift towards younger players has been noticeable.