Revolutionary new transfer rule could change MLS forever
For the first time in league history, ‘Cash for Player Trades’ will allow MLS teams to bring in two players per year for transfer fees.
MLS teams could soon be able to spend cash on rivals' player after a ground-breaking new rule was reportedly passed.
GiveMeSport’s Tom Bogert reports that the league has officially passed a “new cash-based internal trade system” which will allow teams to bring in MLS players for cash transfer fees for the first time. Previously, the trade system involving General Allocation Money (GAM) and other assets was the only way for MLS teams to exchange players.
The new mechanism will be known as a ‘Cash for Player Trade’ and it does exactly as the name suggests. Each year teams will be able to use cash from sponsorships, matchday revenue, ownership investment and other sources to bring in players from other MLS teams. The size of the transfer fee will be disclosed immediately upon announcement of the deal, something that is not common in other soccer leagues.
💵 MLS has officially passed a new cash-based internal trade system which will go into effect immediately, per sources.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 13, 2025
🔺 MLS calling it Cash for Player Trades
🔺 Clubs can acquire 2 per season & sell 2 per season
🔺 Clubs still can make trades with GAMhttps://t.co/qeDeLlAfg6
This change is expected to come into effect immediately and could have significant implications as teams continue to prepare for the 2025 MLS season. Evander of the Portland Timbers and 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati both appear eager for a move away from their current clubs but may have a limited market outside the league.
Both Evander and Acosta are proven MLS performers and would likely garner considerable interest from other teams in the league, potentially earning bigger salaries outside of their current teams. The two players are currently Designated Players at their current teams and would have to remain so at their next team if they were to move on the new Cash for Player Trade system.
What does this change mean for the MLS as it enters a 30th year? It’s the latest concession to the more cash-focused world of soccer’s elite leagues, with fewer limits on spending. While there’s still no suggestion that the MLS could get rid of the trading system entirely, this introduction of internal transfer fees does allow the richer teams to strengthen at the expense of the league’s weaker competitors. In years to come it could be looked back upon as a key change in the history of MLS and soccer in the United States.
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