The Houston Dynamo FC is among the MLS teams with the most economic power. Encompassed by three owners, Ted Segal, Lyle Ayes, and the NBA superstar James Harden whose base salary is over 33 million makes Dynamo’s fans think they could get the best of the best players in the league.
The average base salary of a Houston Dynamo player is $471,199 with an average annualized guaranteed compensation of $527,108 on a roster of 33 players. The highest-paid player is Hector Herrera, with a base salary of $4,750,000.00 and guaranteed compensation of $5,246,875.00
Based on that information, it is easy to get the first impression that every Dynamo’s player earns a six-figure salary. For the most part that is true, but not for every player. Let’s explore the following table showing a breakdown of each player.
Table of Contents
- Houston Dynamo FC Salaries
- Top 3 Highest-Paid Players
- The proportion of spending on the Highest Earners
- Houston Dynamo FC Salary Compared to Other MLS Teams
Houston Dynamo FC Salaries
Here is a breakdown of the base salary and guaranteed compensation of the Houston Dynamo FC players.
Top 3 Highest-Paid Players
The highest-paid players of the Dynamos are:
- Hector Herrera – $5,246,875
- Sebastián Ferreira – $2,130,200
- Teenage Hadebe – $1,288,077
1. Hector Herrera – $5,246,875
Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Hector Herrera joined the Dynamos on July 7 of 2022 on a free transfer from Atlético de Madrid. He is the highest earner of the whole Houston Dynamo FC roster with a total compensation of $5,246,875.
Known in Mexico as “el zorro”, or the fox, began his professional career with Pachuca in 2011 and spent three years at the club before joining FC Porto in 2013. Herrera played a key role in the FC Porto team, winning multiple league titles and being named the club’s Player of the Year for the 2014/15 season.
He represented the Mexican national team at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as winning the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. In 2019, Herrera signed with Atlético Madrid in Spain, his previous club prior to joining the Dynamos.
2. Sebastián Ferreira – $2,130,200
The center-forward Sebastián Ferreira joined the Dynamos on January 18, 2022, for €3.91m and is the second-highest-paid player on the team with a total compensation of $2,130,200.
Ferreira, born in Asunción, Paraguay, began his professional career with Club Olimpia in Paraguay, where he made his debut in 2017.
He has also represented the Paraguayan U-20 national team, scoring two goals in four appearances during the 2019 South American U-20 Championship.
Ferreira is known for his speed, technical ability, and versatility on the field, able to play as a winger or striker.
3. Teenage Hadebe – $1,288,077
The Zimbabwean center-back Teenage Hadebe landed in Houston on Jul 7, 2021, for €1.50 million and is the third-highest-paid player on the team with a total compensation of $1,288,077.
Hadebe, born on March 17, 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe, began his professional career with Bantu Rovers in Zimbabwe, where he made his debut in 2012. He also played for The Highlanders and Chickens Inn FC in 215 and 2016 – 2017 respectively playing the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
In 2017, he signed with Kaizer Chiefs FC in South Africa, where he spent two seasons before joining the turkish club Yenni Maltyaspor for another two seasons in 2019.
In 2021, Hadebe signed with Houston Dynamo FC, bringing his experience and defensive skills to the team. He has also represented the Zimbabwean national team, earning over 20 caps and scoring two goals for his country.
Hadebe is known for his physicality, aerial ability, and strong tackling skills as a center-back, able to disrupt opposing attacks and defend his team’s goal.
The proportion of spending on the Highest Earners
The top three earners are, as expected, the three designated players: Héctor Herrera, Sebastián Ferreira, and Teenage Hadebe. When analyzing the overall percentage salary expenditure between these three players and the rest of the Dynamo’s players, the designated players are the equivalent of 50% of the whole roster’s salary.
Now, if dig deeper and make another comparison between the top earner Héctor Herrera and the rest of the team, the Mexico international player accounts for 30% of the whole team’s salary!
Houston Dynamo FC Salary Compared to Other MLS Teams
According to the MLS Teams and Players Salary Report, the Houston Dynamo is not the team with the highest total compensation for the whole roster which is $17,252,231.
In fact, it is one of the teams with a lower payroll, especially compared to other teams such as Toronto FC and LA Galaxy whose total guaranteed compensation is above $25 million and $23 million. Hence, the cost of the Houston Dynamo’s roster is almost an $8 million difference compared to Toronto’s team salary!
