GOAL takes a look at the 10 most disappointing Designated Player signings over the past five years in Major League Soccer
Olivier Giroud departed LAFC this summer, becoming the latest high-profile Designated Player to underwhelm in Major League Soccer. The Frenchman had moments, but he never lived up to expectations. The same can be said for a number of high-profile players who have disappointed in that label since its introduction to the league 18 years ago.
Dubbed the “Beckham Rule,” the DP mechanism was originally created so the LA Galaxy could sign the England icon. It’s since become a cornerstone of MLS roster building, and teams have heavily relied on it to bring superstar talent to the league. Not all have worked. Disastrous DP signings have plagued the league, with prominent examples such as Rafael Marquez and the New York Red Bulls, Steven Gerrard and the LA Galaxy, and Andrea Pirlo and NYCFC.
In recent years, though, the hit rate has vastly improved, with fewer "big-time" misses.
Lionel Messi is the most historic DP signing to date, but the past five years have seen multiple success stories that elevated players, clubs, and coaches alike – from Messi to Denis Bouanga, former Columbus Crew ace Cucho Hernández and the mercurial Emanuel Reynoso.
Of course, not everyone lived up to the hype.
From Inter Miami's disastrous duo of Blaise Matuidi and Rodolfo Pizarro to Insigne and Xherdan Shaqiri in Chicago, GOAL highlights the top 10 most disappointing DP signings since 2020.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now(C)Getty Images10Olivier Giroud, LAFC
It was fun on paper, right? France's all-time leading scorer, a forward who played at elite levels for Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan – a classic No. 9 who excels as a poacher or a target-man in the box.
Well, it wasn't fun in real life, and that was unfortunate to watch. Giroud lasted just one year in MLS, joining LAFC as a free agent in 2024 before and and the club mutually terminating his contract this summer.
He helped LAFC to the Leagues Cup final in 2024, where he scored his first goal for the club, and he also helped them win the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. However, the Frenchman never found consistency in the final third and was reduced to a bench role more often than not under Steve Cherundolo.
He made 20 regular-season appearances, scoring three goals and adding four assists.
He made an impact at the club, helping them secure silverware in the Open Cup, but he was never a good fit under Cherundolo and never lived up to his DP price tag.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9Kamil Jozwiak, Charlotte FC
Jozwiak joined CLT in 2022 as a high-profile DP signing, transferring from Derby County in England. The Poland international, however, struggled the entire time he was in MLS.
He appeared in 44 regular-season matches, scoring just two goals while recording 10 assists.
His production in the final third was nothing short of lackluster, and the return he provided the club was not that of an established winger who plays for a top European nation. He played two seasons in MLS, but never hit his stride.
CLT managed to avoid using an offseason buy-out on the winger, with La Liga side Granada swooping in to secure his signature in 2024.
Imagn8Luiz Araujo, Atlanta United
Araujo joined Atlanta with high expectations after starring for Ligue 1 heavyweights Lille. He played four seasons in France with the club, helping them to a stunning Ligue 1 title in 2020-2021. Signed at 25, Araujo played two seasons with the , where it became apparent that he was just not a good fit.
Heading into the 2023 season, he was a top-10 earner within MLS, and just did not offer a high enough return for the salary he was being paid. In total, he made 59 appearances for Atlanta, scoring 11 goals and recording 10 assists, while earning an additional 10 yellow cards and one red card.
There were glimpses, and fun moments, but he just never lived up to expectations.
The lone positive spin is that Atlanta was able to flip Araujo for a reported $10 million fee to Flamengo when he left in May 2023. They originally paid Lille a reported $10M plus $2M in potential add-ons. Small margins, but they didn't lose a substantial amount of money.
Imagn7Ake Loba, Nashville SC
Oh, Ake Loba. So much potential, but so much bad soccer.
Loba, an Ivory Coast youth international, starred at youth levels for his nation. After stints around Central America and Mexico as a young player, he joined Nashville in 2021 from CF Monterrey in Liga MX for a reported fee of $6.8 million. They also paid the Portland Timbers $230k for an international roster spot to bring Loba to the club.
Across 40 regular-season games, the striker scored just two goals and recorded two assists. In January 2023, he was loaned to Liga MX side Mazatlan, before a mutual contract termination arrived in May of that year.
So much potential, but he never once looked the part, and looking back, just really poor scouting from Nashville.