WHAT HAPPENED?
FC Cincinnati are reportedly on the verge of signing Cercle Brugge star Kevin Denkey for a fee of $16.2 million. The Togo international was winner of the 2023 Golden Boot in the Belgian Pro League, where he scored 28 goals in 39 matches.
GIVEMESPORT reports that the deal will eclipse the MLS transfer record of $16M that Atlanta United had previously paid for Thiago Almada.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
FCC reportedly pursued U.S. international Josh Sargent, and Monterrey’s German Berterame in the summer, but neither were deals that the MLS club could secure. The DP spot that Denkey is set to occupy was previously held by forward Aaron Boupendza prior to his contract being terminated by the league.
FCC finished third in the Eastern Conference in 2024, exiting the postseason in Round One after being eliminated by New York City FC. Now the club is looking to bolster their roster ahead of the 2025 campaign, with Denkey being a key part.
The Togo international has 11 goals and six assists in 1,679 minutes across all competitions this season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Denkey has scored eight goals in 34 appearances for his country. Togo, however, were eliminated from 2025 Africa Cup of Nations contention this past week after losing 1-0 to Liberia in a qualifying match. Denkey scored in a 3-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea that followed, but it was not enough to qualify for the marquee African tournament.
WHAT NEXT FOR DENKEY?
The 23-year-old and FCC will look to finalize a deal soon, with the MLS transfer window set to open in the new year. For now, though, Denkey will continue play in Belgium with Cercle Brugge.
Cincinnati set to break MLS transfer record with major attacking acquisition
Reigning MVP Luciano Acosta looks to be on the way out but Cincy can now spend serious money to boost their offensive options.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for FC Cincinnati.
Two weekends ago, reigning Supporters’ Shield champions were dumped from the playoffs in Round One. Soon after, team captain and talisman Luciano Acosta promptly announced that he intends to leave the club. After two years of consistent excellence under Pat Noonan, can Cincy retool in the offseason?
The early signs suggest they can. On Tuesday GiveMeSport reported that Cincinnati have completed a deal to bring in striker Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge on a league-record fee.
The expected $16.2 million deal would eclipse the $16 million that Atlanta United paid for Argentinian playmaker Thiago Almada. Denkey, 23 years old, struck 28 goals in 39 games last year and he has followed that up with 11 goals and six assists at the start of 2024/25.
Earlier this year DP striker Aaron Boupendza was frozen out of first-team action after a series of disciplinary issues, including a broken jaw during an incident in a bar. The likes of Josh Sargent and German Berterame had been forwarded as potential replacements for the now-departed Boupendza but it appears that Denkey has got the nod.
What is the MLS transfer fee record?
Ahead of Denkey’s arrival, the three biggest incoming transfer fees in MLS history were all paid by one team: Atlanta United. They have spent big to sign three Argentinians in recent years: Thiago Almada ($16m), Pity Martinez ($15.9m) and Ezequiel Barco ($13m).
Almada also holds the distinction of being one of the largest outgoing transfer fees the league has seen. In July he was sold to Brazilian side Botafogo in a deal worth at $21 million, rising to $30 million if a number of additional conditions are met.
The only MLS fee that can compete is the $26 million that Newcastle United paid to prise Miguel Almiron from Atlanta in 2019. The ambitious Eastern Conference club are the common factor in many of the largest MLS transfer dealings, a product of their big-spending ‘buy-and-sell’ model. They have been willing to fork out large sums to bring in promising young talent, with the aim of developing the player and selling them on to Europe for a profit
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