MLS Player Salaries Released: Kaka and Sebastian Giovinco Among Highest Earners

The MLS Players Union released individual player salaries on Friday, with Orlando City's Kaka listed as the highest earner at around $7.2 million a year. Toronto FC's Michael Bradley ($6.5 million annually) makes the most money out of any American.

The salaries were released less than a day after the MLS Players Union ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, per the official league website. 

The LA Galaxy's newest signing, Giovani Dos Santos, will earn roughly $4.1 million this year. That's more than $2 million less than his teammate Steven Gerrard, who is on $6.3 million in annual salary.

New York City FC's Frank Lampard is the team's highest-paid player this year at $6 million. Striker David Villa is on approximately $5.6 million, with Andrea Pirlo making just $2.3 million in 2015. However, the Italian midfielder is expected to be paid $8 million annually in the future, per Doug McIntyre of ESPN FC.

Toronto FC is spending more than $18 million in yearly salary on its three designated players. Jozy Altidore is on close to $4.8 million a year and Sebastian Giovinco makes around $7.1 million on top of Bradley's $6.5 million. Giovinco is the No. 2 earner in MLS.

The Seattle Sounders are paying U.S. international Clint Dempsey about $4.6 million a year, with Obafemi Martins making $3 million. When compared with other salaries across the league, the Sounders are getting a formidable return on their investment.

One notable change in this year's salaries comes from the New York Red Bulls. Their payroll has significantly decreased after the departures of Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, with just one player making over $600,000 a year in Bradley Wright-Phillips:

The Red Bulls have recently changed philosophy under sporting director Ali Curtis, but it hasn't hurt the club in the league standings. New York is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Unless otherwise noted, all player salaries via the MLS Players Union. 

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.