Juan Soto is on the verge of signing the largest contract in sports history, reportedly agreeing to a $765 million (£600 million) deal with Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.
The groundbreaking 15-year agreement will see Soto, 26, secure an unprecedented payday, surpassing the $700 million (£558 million) deal Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Multiple sources in the United States have confirmed the deal, though the Mets have yet to officially announce it as Soto still needs to complete a medical evaluation.
Should everything go as planned, the contract could eventually rise to $800 million (£627 million), cementing Soto’s place at the top of sports salary records.
Who is Juan Soto?
Soto, who was set to be one of MLB’s most sought-after free agents this off-season, has just completed his best season to date with the New York Yankees.
Known for his elite ability to get on base, Soto boasts the highest career on-base percentage among active MLB players (0.421).
In 2024, only teammate Aaron Judge had a better OBP, while only three players hit more home runs than Soto.
In addition to his colossal salary, Soto’s deal reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus, with no deferred payments, making it the largest in total value in professional sports.
Deferred-money contracts, in which players agree to receive part of their earnings at a later date, are commonly used in American sports. Soto’s contract marks a new milestone in these lucrative deals.
To put this new deal in perspective, some of the other most significant contracts in sports include:
Dak Prescott’s four-year, $240 million (£183 million) extension with the Dallas Cowboys, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the largest in NFL history by total value.
Jayson Tatum’s five-year, $314 million (£245 million) deal with the Boston Celtics in the NBA.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported $200 million (£176.5 million) per year deal with Al-Nassr, and Lionel Messi’s $60 million (£47 million) per year contract at Inter Miami.
Soto’s new deal outshines these contracts in total value, solidifying his status as one of the most coveted athletes in the world.
Soto was previously with the New York Yankees, where he helped lead the team to the 2024 World Series, though they were defeated 4-1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Yankees had reportedly offered Soto a $760 million (£595 million) contract over 16 years to keep him, but the Mets swooped in with a more lucrative offer.
Over his illustrious career, Soto has played for the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and the Yankees.
His achievements include a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBIs in 2024, and he was instrumental in the Nationals’ surprising World Series victory over the Houston Astros in 2019.
With a total of 936 regular-season games, 201 home runs, and a .285 batting average, Soto has proven himself to be one of the premier talents in MLB, and now he is poised to make history with one of the biggest financial rewards ever seen in professional sports.
