MLS shake-up: LA Galaxy and Nashville SC make bold trade ahead of 2025 season | OneFootball

And looking to the 2025 MLS season, it will only get hotter, with moves already being made by LA Galaxy and Nashville SC. That deal involving Sean Davis for Gastón Brugman really stirred the market and opened new doors for both clubs, each with clear ambitions for the upcoming season. What does this deal really mean, though, on and off the field?

A new Galaxy piece

Sean Davis, 31, comes to the Galaxy with an impressive MLS resume: 276 games played, five goals scored, 28 assists. He spent the majority of his career with the New York Red Bulls, winning two Supporters' Shields in 2015 and 2018, then Nashville SC from 2022 to 2024.

Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz underlined Davis's worth: "Sean brings a wealth of experience as an MLS-developed player, a former captain, and a two-time Supporters' Shield winner, which will greatly benefit our squad both on and off the field."

Also, Nashville will still pay a portion of Davis's salary cap hit for 2025, which means Galaxy now have more financial flexibility to make roster moves in the future.

Nashville gets a game-changer

Gastón Brugman, 32, was the new midfield addition for Nashville SC. The Uruguayan joined Galaxy in 2022 from Parma in Italy and quickly became an integral part of their team. In his time with MLS, he scored five goals and made ten assists in 65 games, including an MVP performance in the 2024 MLS Cup final.

Kuntz also chimed in with some comments about Brugman's departure: "Gastón is a fierce competitor, an incredible teammate and an even better person. He made so many significant contributions to Galaxy on the field and in the locker room during his time with the club, and none more important than his MVP performance in the 2024 MLS Cup.

Brugman travels to Nashville with a lot of expectation to keep the high bar he had at Galaxy, especially after his performances were decisive for the title of this club.

Financial details and impacts for both clubs

Trade involves potential future income to Nashville SC. Provided the certain performance metrics set is achieved by Sean Davis, then Galaxy will pay up to 100,000 in GAM.

Meanwhile, Galaxy gains financial relief by offloading Brugman’s salary, freeing up space for potential new signings in 2025. This demonstrates how MLS teams must balance financial considerations with roster strategy to remain competitive.