Major League Soccer has released the list of players available for selection in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. Expansion clubs Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF will continue to build their inaugural rosters by selecting up to five players each from the eligible player list on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The Expansion Draft eligible player list includes players from 19 MLS clubs. D.C. United, FC Dallas, the Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC are exempt, having had a player selected in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft.
All 19 remaining clubs had the opportunity to protect up to 12 players each from their roster. MLS Homegrown Players ages 25 and under (those born during or after 1994), as well as Generation adidas players that did not graduate from the program following the 2019 season are automatically protected, therefore clubs did not need to use one of their 12 selections to protect them.
Minnesota United protected players list:
- Osvaldo Alonso
- Michael Boxall
- Thomas Chacon
- Hassani Dotson
- Chase Gasper
- Jan Gregus
- Romario Ibarra
- Robin Lod
- Vito Mannone
- Roman Metanire
- Kevin Molino
- Ike Opara
- Dayne St. Clair (GA)
- Mason Toye (GA)
Once a player has been claimed from a club's list of eligible players, Nashville SC and Inter Miami may no longer select players from that club's list.
Kicking off at 4:30 p.m. CT, MLSsoccer.com’s 2019 MLS Expansion Draft live studio show will bring fans all of the selections in real-time, providing expert analysis on each team’s picks. In addition, MLSsoccer.com host Susannah Collins will be on location in the swankiest honky tonk Ole Red® Nashville, bringing live updates from the Nashville SC fan event that will feature local celebrities announcing Nashville SC’s Expansion Draft picks and live musical performances. In Miami, reporter Jillian Sakovits will be fully embedded with Inter Miami CF to provide breaking news straight from club headquarters.
2019 MLS Expansion Draft Rules:
Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC may select up to five players from the eligible MLS player pool below. Only a single player can be drafted from any one club. Once one player has been claimed from a club’s unprotected roster, Inter Miami and Nashville SC may not select any other players from that club's list.
- Five rounds
- Three minutes for each selection
- No timeouts
- No trades permitted during the draft
Players and teams exempt from the draft:
- The five teams that had players selected by the FC Cincinnati in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft are exempt from the 2019 Expansion Draft:
- FC Dallas
- D.C. United
- Houston Dynamo
- New York Red Bulls
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Players automatically exempt from the 2019 Expansion Draft:
- Generation adidas players (who did not graduate at the end of the 2019 season)
- Homegrown Players ages 25 and under (those born during or after 1994)
Players NOT exempt from the draft:
- Designated Players: If a Designated Player has a no-trade clause in his contract, then the club must protect him in the Expansion Draft.
- International Players: Clubs with four or more international players must protect at least three international players, excluding any automatically protected players. If a club has only three international players, it must protect two. If a club has only two international players, it must protect one. A club that has only one international player is not required to protect that player.
- Free Agents: If a Free Agent is selected in the Expansion Draft, the expansion club that selected the player will gain his previous club’s ability to negotiate a new contract consistent with the CBA. The player’s 2019 club would be treated as a new club for purposes of the Free Agency rules.
Roster Notes:
- For a club that has a player claimed from their unprotected roster, that team will receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money for the selection.
- If a club protects a player, it is not obligated to exercise the player’s option. It may renegotiate a new contract with the player as in previous years, subject to the CBA.
- If the player’s contract expires at the end of 2019, he will still be considered part of the club’s roster.
- If either Inter Miami CF or Nashville SC selects a Supplemental/Reserve Roster Player, it must offer him a Senior Roster position and he must remain on the Senior Roster as of 2020 Roster Compliance Date.
