With the close of the secondary international transfer window on Friday, the New York Red Bulls made one of the biggest splashes of the summer with the signing of Everton attacker Tim Cahill.
And if you believe the rumors, MLS teams aren't done with their DP moves.
Any other signings would join a 2012 summer DP class that already includes Jerry Bengtson (New England), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston), Sherjill MacDonald (Chicago), Marco Di Vaio (Montreal), Barry Robson (Vancouver) and Kenny Miller (Vancouver).
But can they make an instant impact? Here's what they're up against: The top three summer DP signings in MLS history.
3. Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls, 2010)
The addition of the Frenchman in July 2010 added a swagger and an attitude to a Red Bulls team that had failed to rise to the expectations placed on the club.
Henry played in 11 matches to end the 2010 season and although he registered only two goals and three helpers in those games, he did make enough of a contribution to help RBNY finish the regular season atop the Eastern Conference.
The club missed him dearly, however, in the first round of the playoffs when he was limited to a late bench role in the shocking ouster at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes.
2. Geovanni (San Jose Earthquakes, 2010)
That Earthquakes team made a memorable and unexpected postseason run after receiving a boost with the signing of San Jose's first-ever DP.
The Brazilian's vision, creativity and set-piece service helped the Quakes during the stretch run (12 appearances with a goal and three assists).
That fairytale run came to an end in agonizing fashion against Colorado in the Eastern Conference Championship, and the aging Geovanni was promptly let go on season's end.
1. Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire, 2007)
No one midseason DP signing took over his team quite like polarizing Mexican playmaker in 2007.
He outdid Henry and Geovanni as far as production goes (four goals and seven assists in just 14 matches), but more importantly, he was the difference-maker and the leader that the Fire lacked at the time. And they rode him all the way to the Eastern title match.
So significant was Blanco's impact that year — 2007 was also the same season David Beckham joined the league — that he was a finalist for the MVP award after logging action in just 14 MLS games.
The bar is set high for Cahill & Co.
