The salary of former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula at Major League Soccer side Toronto FC has been revealed the league’s salary guide.
Mailula, 22, joined the MLS side on a deal until 2026 with an option for 2027 in July in a move that surprised many in South African football.
But things have been tough since Mailula’s switch to the United States, with the Bafana Bafana forward making just three appearances off the bench so far and Toronoto losing nine of their 10 games since he joined the club.
Luckily for Mailula and Toronto, there is no relegation from the MLS, and he will now be able to complete a full pre-season with his new side to build up his confidence ahead of the coming season.
At the time of Mailula’s transfer abroad, many in South Africa were left wondering how much he would earn in the MLS, and the league’s latest salary guide has been published – it contains salary information for all MLS players under contract as of 30 April 2023, with the data freely shared with the public, unlike in South Africa.
The Sundowns academy product is earning $275,000 (R5.2 million) in base salary and $291,003 (R5.5 million) in guaranteed compensation per year at his new club – Mailula’s monthly guaranteed compensation is $24,250 (R458,000).
Note: The Annual Average Guaranteed Compensation (Guaranteed Compensation) number includes a player’s base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player’s contract, including option years. The Average Annual Guaranteed Compensation figure also includes any marketing bonus and any agent’s fees, both annualized over the term of the contract. The Average Annual Guaranteed Compensation figure does not include Performance Bonuses because there is no guarantee that the player will hit those bonuses.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is the highest earner in the MLS, with $12 million (R227 million) base salary and $20.5 million (R388 million) in guaranteed compensation. But Messi had multiple commercial clauses included in his deal with Inter Miami, such as earning from Apple TV, among others.
