MLS
Huge names set for MLS free agency: which players are on the list?
These are the players that are soon allowed to enter into talks with various clubs in the league.
After the LA Galaxy crown that puts them as the new kigns of Major League Soccer, both the clubs and players are beginning to prepare for his next season.
Major League Soccer shared on Thursday the list of players who have become free agents. That is, they can begin to have talks and pre-agreements with all the league’s rosters.
Several players who were fundamental for their teams appear on the list, leaving their future in uncertainty. Carlos Vela, Raúl Ruídiaz and Kei Kamara are some of those who appear on the list, and who are expected to be among the most sought after by the clubs. Below is the full list.
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Other players whose names stand out on this list include Yamil Asad and Eduard Atuesta, who, despite playing important minutes for Cincinnati and LAFC respectively, had their contract options declined. Panamanian Anibal Godoy also declined Nashville’s offer. Salvadoran Eriq Zavaleta of LA Galaxy also appears out of contract.
Josef Martínez appears on the list again at the end of the campaign after declining Montreal’s offer. The experienced Raúl Ruídiaz was one step away from advancing to the MLS Cup with Seattle after losing to LA Galaxy in the Conference final and did not renew his contract with the Sounders.
Carlos Vela, who returned prior to the playoffs and played minutes with LAFC, is in the same situation, and although there has been much talk about his permanence in Los Angeles; like Kamara, there are also strong rumours about his possible move to the league’s new franchise, San Diego FC, who have been linked with names such as Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Ramos.
Goalkeepers:
Bendik, Joe – Option Declined
Bersano, Matt – Option Declined
Bono, Alexander – Option Declined
Bush, Evan – Out of Contract
Clark, Steve – Option Declined
Irwin, Clint – Option Declined
Ketterer, Logan – Out of Contract
Marcinkowski, JT – Option Declined
Maurer, Jimmy – Out of Contract
Melia, Tim – Out of Contract
Miller, Tyler – Option Declined
Ranjitsingh, Greg – Option Declined
Richey, Spencer – Out of Contract
Scott, Brady – Option Declined
Westberg, Quentin – Out of Contract
Yarbrough, William – Option Declined
Defenders:
Abubakar, Lalas – Option Declined
Arreaga, Xavier – Option Declined
Beason, Tanner – Option Declined
Edwards, Raheem – Option Declined
Elliott, Jack – Option Declined
Fontàs, Andreu – Out of Contract
Gonzalez, Omar – Option Declined
Hagglund, Nick – Out of Contract
Hedges, Matt – Option Declined
Holt, Erik – Option Declined
Jiménez, Hector – Out of Contract
Kallman, Brent – Out of Contract
Lima, Nick – Out of Contract
Lindsey, Jaylin – Option Declined
Martins, Luis – Option Declined
Mavinga, Chris – Out of Contract
Mensah, Jonathan – Option Declined
Murillo, Jesús – Out of Contract
Nerwinski, Jake – Option Declined
Omsberg, Wyatt – Out of Contract
O'Neill, Shane – Option Declined
Parker, Tim – Out of Contract
Real, Matt – Option Declined
Ruan – Out of Contract
Santos, Pedro – Out of Contract
Schmitt, Tate – Option Declined
Silva, Marcelo – Out of Contract
Smith, Brad – Option Declined
Smith, Kyle – Out of Contract
Steres, Daniel – Option Declined
Thompson, Tommy – Option Declined
Twumasi, Ema – Option Declined
Valentin, Zarek – Out of Contract
Zavaleta, Eriq – Out of Contract
What is MLS free agency and how does it work?
MLS free agency allows players to negotiate a new contract with any MLS club. For a player to be eligible, he must be at least 24 years old and have been in the league for at least five years. Free agency has different stages:
In the first phase, which begins at the end of November, clubs must notify which players will have their contract options exercised and which will not.
This does not include the teams that will play in the Conference Finals. Later, over the first days of December, the same procedure should be carried out by the clubs that played in the Conference Finals. The same will happen with the participants in the MLS Cup.
Teams are not limited in the number of free agents they may sign, and out-of-contract players who receive a bona fide offer from their current team may still participate in free agency.
Midfielders:
Anunga, Tah Brian – Option Declined
Asad, Yamil – Option Declined
Atuesta, Eduard – Option Declined
Baldisimo, Michael – Out of Contract
Bedoya, Alejandro – Out of Contract
Blessing, Latif – Option Declined
Canouse, Russell – Out of Contract
Chang, Maikel – Out of Contract
Fraser, Liam – Option Declined
Godoy, Aníbal – Option Declined
Greguš, Ján – Option Declined
Herbers, Fabian – Out of Contract
Lappalainen, Lassi – Option Declined
Lassiter, Ariel – Out of Contract
Loría, Marvin – Option Declined
Martins, Felipe – Out of Contract
McCarty, Dax – Option Declined
McNamara, Tommy – Option Declined
Moralez, Maxi – Out of Contract
Moreno, Júnior – Option Declined
Paulo, João – Out of Contract
Raposo, Ryan – Out of Contract
Ring, Alexander – Option Declined
Rusnák, Albert – Out of Contract
Sánchez, Ilie – Out of Contract
Sejdić, Amar – Option Declined
Servania, Brandon – Option Declined
Trapp, Wil – Option Declined
Urso, Júnior – Option Declined
Wanyama, Victor – Out of Contract
Yearwood, Dru – Out of Contract
Yueill, Jackson – Out of Contract
Forwards:
Altidore, Jozy – Out of Contract
Burke, Cory – Option Declined
Dájome, Cristian – Option Declined
Ebobisse, Jeremy – Option Declined
Finlay, Ethan – Option Declined
Kamara, Kei – Option Declined
Lewis, Jonathan – Out of Contract
Martínez, Josef – Option Declined
Michel, Benji – Option Declined
Picault, Fafa – Option Declined
Robinson, Robbie – Out of Contract
Ruidíaz, Raúl – Out of Contract
Russell, Johnny – Out of Contract
Toye, Mason – Option Declined
Vela, Carlos – Option Declined
Finally, players who are expected to be free agents may re-sign with their current club for any compensation subject to League approval at its discretion. This can happen at any time prior to the start of the Second Stage of the Draft scheduled for December 19.
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