2023 MLS MVP
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FC Dallas have sold Luciano Acosta to Brazilian top club Fluminense. Transfermarkt understands that the Major League Soccer side will receive $4 million (€3.4m) plus the usual add-ons as part of the transfer. Dallas acquired Lucho Acosta just last offseason in a cash-for-player trade worth $5m plus $1m in add-ons (€5.85m) from FC Cincinnati in February 2025. Now, just six months later, Acosta is off to Brazil.
“Signing Lucho Acosta was a calculated move for our club, and we were excited about what he could bring to FC Dallas,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said in a club statement. “His legacy in MLS is undeniable, and while this chapter was shorter than we imagined, we respect Lucho’s desire to be closer to home and thank him for his contributions this season. As we look ahead, this move gives us the opportunity to reshape our roster and continue building a team that plays with purpose, pride, and intensity.”
Acosta pushed for a move away from FC Cincinnati last season, preferring a move to South America, where Boca Juniors were among the interested parties. But a transfer never materialized. Instead, Cincinnati opted to trade the 31-year-old playmaker for what was then the largest cash-for-player trade in MLS history to FC Dallas. Since his arrival in Texas, Acosta has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 23 games across all competitions. Last month, Acosta met with US men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino to discuss potentially representing the United States. The transfer to Brazil presumably ends that possibility.
2023 MLS MVP – Why did Dallas opt to sell Acosta to Fluminense?
Without a doubt, there was risk involved in bringing in Acosta despite his desire to move on to South America in February. But the possibility of signing the 2023 MLS MVP was too good to pass up for FC Dallas. The Texas club needed a new attacking player after Alan Velasco (Boca) and Jesús Ferreira (Seattle) were moved on last winter. As his desire remained unchanged, Dallas opted to sell Acosta.
Why sell Acosta now? “This transfer opens both roster and financial flexibility,” said FC Dallas chief soccer officer André Zanotta. “We remain committed to building a squad that aligns with our long-term vision: dynamic, competitive, and committed to our style of play. We’re focused on making smart additions that elevate our team and reflect the ambition of this club.” With the window still open, Dallas now have the roster flexibility to continue reshaping the roster, even if they failed to recoup the transfer fee paid to Cincinnati for Acosta.