MLS Opens the Door to Flexibility in Roster Construction
In a bid to spice up the league, MLS has introduced a slew of changes to its roster rules, allowing teams to construct their squads with more flexibility. The tweaks, which went into effect on the opening of the summer transfer window, will see teams able to sign three Designated Players (DPs) and three under-22 signings, or two DPs and four U22s, plus an additional $2 million in General Allocation Money (GAM).
Previously, teams had to choose between the two paths, with a limit of one U22 signing if they had three overage DPs. This move is expected to benefit clubs like Inter Miami, which has been juggling its DP and U22 signings to become salary budget compliant. "The new roster rules open the door for clubs to sign additional world-class players and more emerging stars, while also providing a great deal of flexibility to invest across the roster," said Todd Durbin, MLS Executive Vice President for Player Strategy and Relations.
One of the most significant changes is the increasing of GAM teams receive when players are transferred out of the league. Teams will now get to keep $3 million over the course of the season, up from $1.2 million per transaction. This will give teams more leeway to invest in new signings, particularly as the league prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
But not all changes made it through. The proposal to increase the number of allowed contract buyouts per season from one to two was rejected by the MLS Players Association. This is likely due to concerns that it would reward teams for making mistakes, rather than holding them accountable for their roster decisions.
So, what does this mean for MLS? In short, it means teams will have more flexibility to construct their squads and make signings that can actually improve their on-field performance. For fans, it means more exciting match-ups and potentially more competitive teams.
The coming months will reveal just how effective these changes will be. Will we see teams like Inter Miami making savvy signings to boost their chances of success? Only time will tell. To stay up-to-date with all the latest MLS news and rumors, follow us on all social media platforms!