Columbus has always been a blue-collar city with a gold standard soccer team. The Crew—reigning MLS Cup champs—might not spend like Miami or LA, but they sure know how to stretch a dollar. Sitting middle of the pack at 15th in total base salary ($16.4M) and 11th in guaranteed compensation ($19.2M), the Crew prove that heart, chemistry, and coaching can outshine billion-dollar payrolls.
🥇 Gold: Diego Rossi — $2,725,000 Base / $3,426,827 Guaranteed
Diego Rossi doesn’t just earn the most on this roster—he owns the attack. The Uruguayan playmaker’s creativity has been the engine of Columbus’ offense, his vision turning half-chances into highlight reels. At 16.6% of the team’s payroll, Rossi carries both the pressure and the paycheck.
He’s not quite Messi money (nobody is), but Rossi lands in elite MLS company. His salary puts him in the same neighborhood as Portland’s Jonathan Rodríguez and Seattle’s Albert Rusnák—except Rossi has something they don’t this season: a trophy shine and a city that worships his every touch.
When Rossi’s on the ball, Lower.com Field stands still. Then, like a magician revealing his final trick, the ball finds the net and everyone remembers why he’s paid like a star.
🥈 Silver: Dániel Gazdag — $2,000,004 Base / $2,597,643 Guaranteed
Gazdag’s move to Columbus might’ve raised a few eyebrows, but the guy fits right into Wilfried Nancy’s playbook like he was born for it. He’s clinical, efficient, and allergic to wasted motion. That Hungarian precision shows in every penalty he buries and every perfectly timed run that splits a back line.
At just over $2 million a year, Gazdag represents the Crew’s sweet spot: elite talent without breaking the bank. For perspective, he’s making less than LA’s Ricard Puig or Miami’s third-best forward—and producing just as much.
He’s the type of player who makes accountants smile and opposing defenses curse. The Crew pay him silver, but he’s been delivering gold-standard performances since Day 1.
🥉 Bronze: Wessam Abou Ali — $1,800,000 Base / $2,157,375 Guaranteed
Abou Ali is Columbus’ wildcard weapon—a striker who mixes Scandinavian discipline with a street-fighter’s swagger. He doesn’t need many touches to make a mark. Give him half a yard and he’ll bury it before you blink.
His salary ranks third on the Crew but would barely crack the top 15 on some coastal clubs. For just over $2 million guaranteed, he’s a steal considering his knack for clutch goals and the chaos he causes in the box.
He’s not flashy off the field, but between the lines, Abou Ali plays like a man possessed—hungry, relentless, and quietly rewriting Columbus’ definition of a designated player bargain.
The Best Bang for the Buck
While Rossi, Gazdag, and Abou Ali take home the headlines, the Crew’s secret sauce might just be in their supporting cast. Patrick Schulte, earning just under $1M, has been one of the most reliable young goalkeepers in MLS. Meanwhile, Darlington Nagbe—the eternal metronome—keeps the midfield humming at $1.4M, proving consistency still matters in a league obsessed with flash.
No wonder Columbus keeps punching above its payroll. They’ve built a roster that blends value and versatility, where the sum always outperforms the parts.
How They Stack Up to the League
Columbus’ total payroll accounts for just 3.17% of the league’s total base and 3.26% of total guaranteed pay—yet they’re outplaying teams spending twice as much. LAFC, for instance, shells out over $30M in guaranteed salaries, and Inter Miami burns nearly $49M keeping Messi and friends happy.
Columbus? They just keep winning.
It’s the perfect MLS story: small market, big brains, bigger heart. In a league of stars, the Crew remain the team that turns teamwork into treasure.
Final Whistle
Money can buy you a superstar. Columbus proves it can also buy you synergy. With Rossi’s flair, Gazdag’s ice-cold finishing, and Abou Ali’s hunger, the Crew’s top trio isn’t just earning their money—they’re making every fan believe again.
In 2025, Columbus doesn’t need to outspend anyone. They just need to outsmart them—and that, they do better than almost anyone in MLS.
Table: Columbus Crew Player Salaries 2025
(Highlighting top three earners in gold, silver, and bronze)
| Player | Pos | Base | Guaranteed | Rank | % Base | % Guar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diego Rossi | Attacking Midfield | $2,725,000 | $3,426,827 | 1 | 16.6% | 17.8% |
| Dániel Gazdag | Attacking Midfield | $2,000,004 | $2,597,643 | 2 | 12.2% | 13.5% |
| Wessam Abou Ali | Center Forward | $1,800,000 | $2,157,375 | 3 | 11.0% | 11.2% |
| Darlington Nagbe | Central Midfield | $1,425,000 | $1,565,833 | 4 | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| Patrick Schulte | Goalkeeper | $825,000 | $957,083 | 5 | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| Steven Moreira | Right-back | $820,000 | $902,000 | 6 | 5.0% | 4.7% |
| Hugo Picard | Left Midfield | $675,000 | $731,244 | 7 | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| Andrés Herrera | Right-back | $650,000 | $737,158 | 8 | 4.0% | 3.8% |
| Malte Amundsen | Center-back | $624,996 | $697,496 | 9 | 3.8% | 3.6% |
| Yevgen Cheberko | Center-back | $610,000 | $658,250 | 10 | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Rudy Camacho | Center-back | $525,000 | $601,000 | 11 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Ibrahim Aliyu | Center Forward | $474,996 | $526,375 | 12 | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| Dylan Chambost | Attacking Midfield | $450,000 | $557,219 | 13 | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Mohamed Farsi | Right Midfield | $425,000 | $455,000 | 14 | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Sean Zawadzki | Central Midfield | $400,000 | $446,875 | 15 | 2.4% | 2.3% |
| Derrick Jones | Central Midfield | $350,000 | $387,500 | 16 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Max Arfsten | Left Wing | $350,000 | $389,375 | 16 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Lassi Lappalainen | Left Wing | $325,000 | $368,750 | 18 | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Jacen Russell-Rowe | Center Forward | $120,000 | $130,789 | 19 | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Taha Habroune | Central Midfield | $104,000 | $116,000 | 20 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Amar Sejdić | Defensive Midfield | $104,000 | $118,550 | 20 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Evan Bush | Goalkeeper | $104,000 | $104,000 | 20 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Nicholas Hagen | Goalkeeper | $104,000 | $122,600 | 20 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Abraham Romero | Goalkeeper | $104,000 | $104,000 | 20 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Cesar Ruvalcaba | Center-back | $80,622 | $80,622 | 25 | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Cole Mrowka | Central Midfield | $80,622 | $100,630 | 25 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Stanislav Lapkes | Goalkeeper | $80,622 | $99,712 | 25 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Tristan Brown | Left-back | $80,622 | $84,986 | 25 | 0.5% | 0.4% |
If there are any new signings or other updates to the salaries, I will update the information given above.
Here are the player salaries for all the teams In the MLS.
