Major League Soccer (MLS) made significant changes to its roster rules and regulations, announcing the formation of a true intra-league transfer market with cash trading between clubs. Players involved in these transactions will receive a guaranteed 10 percent cut of the transfer fees. These changes, effective immediately, aim to align MLS’s player movement standards with international norms and provide better protections for players.
Teams are now allowed to trade “unlimited” cash for players without affecting their general allocation money (GAM) coffers, creating a more fluid transfer market within the league. Additionally, the secondary transfer window has been shifted to align more closely with the global transfer market, providing more opportunities for player movement.
The new cash trading option could revolutionize how teams build and maintain their squads, allowing for up to two player transactions per year for cash, separate from other mechanisms like GAM or international slots. This change aims to make it easier for teams to compete with the global market in acquiring players within the league.
Other changes include extending the summer transfer window and allowing off-roster homegrown players more opportunities for playing time. The expiration date on most GAM has been eliminated, and teams can now execute two contract buyouts per season. Loans of designated players abroad can now open corresponding DP slots during the loan period.
These changes provide teams with greater flexibility in roster management and player development, potentially leading to more involvement of young players and improved investment in youth development. The updates are welcomed by many in the league as a step towards modernizing player movement standards and enhancing the competitiveness of MLS clubs.
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