Dempsey is MLS' top-paid player
Dempsey leads MLS in salary, US teammates Donovan, Bradley among top 12
Seattle Sounders midfielder Clint Dempsey, right, scores on a penalty kick to tie the game against Portland Timbers goalkeeper Andrew Weber late in the second half of an MLS soccer game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, April 5, 2014. The two teams tied 4-4. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Seattle Sounders striker Clint Dempsey is the league's highest-paid player at $6,695,000 in guaranteed compensation this season.
Toronto FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy each have three of the 12 players making seven-figure salaries, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union.
The numbers include the player's base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player's contract, including option years, but not performance bonuses.
Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy is guaranteed $4,583,000, just ahead of teammate Robbie Keane's $4.5 million. Omar Gonzalez is paid $1.25 million.
Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley is the second highest paid MLS player, at $6.5 million, followed by teammate Jermain Defoe at $6.18 million and striker Gilberto at $1.2 million.
Thierry Henry of New York Red Bulls is set to make $4.35 million, while Tim Cahill of New York Red Bulls is due $3,625,000. Rounding out the other 12 are Montreal's Marco DiVaio ($2.6 million), Seattle's Obafemi Martins ($1,753,000), and Vancouver's Pedro Morales ($1,410,900).
All 12 are designated players, meaning that only $387,500 of their pay counts against their clubs' $3.1-million salary caps.
Other U.S. team members paid reasonably well, but not in the neighborhood of of Dempsey, Donovan, and Bradley are: 2012 MLS scoring leader Chris Wondolowski San Jose ($650,000); Maurice Edu, Philadelphia ($650,000); Clarence Goodson, San Jose ($342,000); and Michael Parkhurst ($300,000).
