Hany Mukhtar to leave Nashville SC for Qatar? Most productive player in MLS since 2021

Could the best player in Major League Soccer be on the move? Transfermarkt can confirm a report by the Qatari-based outlet Al Kass that Hany Mukhtar has received an offer from the Qatar Stars League. According to Transfermarkt information, the offer is very attractive. Furthermore, Transfermarkt understands that Nashville SC have received a lucrative written offer as well. But TM understands that Nashville are unlikely to accept the offer.

Whether Nashville accept the offer is another question. With a market value of €12 million, Mukhtar is currently one of the top ten most valuable players in MLS. Furthermore, Nashville has in the past turned down significant offers for the attacking midfielder, who is currently under contract until 2025. That contract earned Mukhtar $3.18m in guaranteed compensation, according to the MLSPA salary guide published earlier this year. That contract makes Mukhtar the 17th highest-paid player in the league. 

There is no doubt that Nashville would have a hard time replacing Mukhtar. Joining Nashville ahead of the 2020 season, Mukhtar has scored 63 goals and 28 assists (note MLS counts assists differently) in 111 games. The last three years, in particular, have been impressive, with the 28-year-old scoring 16 goals and 10 assists in 31 regular season games in 2021, then 23 goals and seven assists in 33 games last season, and this season Mukhtar has already scored 13 goals and seven assists in just 22 games. 

Mukhtar set to leave Nashville SC? Most productive in MLS since 2021

In fact, Opta Stats highlights that no player has been more productive in the regular season than the Berlin native since 2021. Mukhtar’s 55 goals rank him a full 19 goals ahead of second-placed Dániel Gazdag in that same period. Since 2021, Mukhtar ranks third with 24 assists, just two assists behind Carles Gil (New England) and Luciano Acosta (Cincinnati), who both have 26 over that period. 

But there is more. Mukhtar also ranks fifth in the league with 174 key passes in that period and eighth with 130 successful dribbles. What makes Mukhtar dangerous? Although not a striker, Mukhtar has the ability to create dangerous chances from anywhere in the final third and led the league with 149 shots on goal. Just to put that in perspective, second-placed Taty Castellanos had 94 shots on goal in the same time span. 

With all that in mind, losing Mukhtar would be a significant setback for the MLS club. Nashville are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference, Mukhtar has been carrying the team, and with the second-best scorer being Jacob Shaffelburg (three goals and three assists), there is nobody in the squad that could compensate for the German’s departure.