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Designated Player Rule
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The Designated Player Rule, nicknamed the Beckham Rule, allows Major League Soccer franchises to sign up to three players that would be considered outside their salary cap (either by offering the player higher wages or by paying a transfer fee for the player). The rule, which was adopted ahead of the 2007 MLS season, enables teams to compete for star players in the international football market. The rule is one of two mechanisms by which MLS teams may exceed their salary cap, the other being allocation money. As of December 2019, there have been 209 Designated Players in league history.
The rule is informally named after David Beckham, in anticipation of MLS teams signing lucrative deals with internationally recognized players, after Beckham entered into negotiations to join the league.[1][2] Beckham was the first player signed under this rule, signing a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 with a guaranteed annual salary of $6.5 million.[3][4]
History
[edit]The team salary cap was estimated to be around US$1.9 million in 2006,[5] was $2.1 million in 2007, and was raised to $2.3 million for the 2008 season.[6][7] As part of the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLS and the MLS Players' Union, the 2010 salary cap was $2.55 million, with an automatic five percent increase each year until the expiration of the agreement at the end of the 2014 season.
Under the 2007 rule:
- The rule expires at the end of the 2009 season, and must be renewed then or allowed to lapse.
- For each Designated Player, $400,000[7][8] of his salary is charged to the salary cap and paid by the league, with any remaining salary being paid by the team's operator. This value was increased for the 2009 season to $415,000.
- Prior to the 2007 season, there were three players whose salary exceeded $400,000. These players were Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz, and Eddie Johnson. According to the rule, these players were grandfathered in for the 2007 season, and the exemption was extended after the 2007 season, with the league planning to review the issue at a future date. It was possible that the league would be required to renegotiate these players' contracts or consider them Designated Players. However, prior to the start of the 2008 season, Johnson moved to Fulham of the Premier League,[9] while following Dwayne De Rosario's signing by Toronto FC in January 2009, Ruiz was released by the club and left MLS to play for Olimpia Asunción. This left Donovan as the lone player whose 2009 salary remained grandfathered under the exemption provision. However, there were several more players whose guaranteed salary exceeded the Designated Player amount, but whose salary cap expense was actually lower than their true salary due to the allocation rule. These players include Shalrie Joseph ($450,000), Christian Gomez ($430,000), Dwayne De Rosario ($425,750), and Taylor Twellman ($420,000).
- Each team initially had one Designated Player spot, but could trade their Designated Spot to another team; teams were allowed a maximum of two Designated Players.
- Only $325,000 of a team's second Designated Player counted against the salary cap, which was increased to $335,000 in 2009.[7]
The 2010 changes:[10]
- The rule has no expiration date.
- For each Designated Player, $335,000 of his salary is charged to the salary cap and paid by the league ($167,500 for DP players joining during the MLS summer transfer window), with any remaining salary being paid by the team's operator. This amount is halved for Designated Players signed in the middle of the season. The salary cap value of Designated Players can also be reduced using allocation money. Finally, teams whose Designated Players transfer abroad in the middle of a season can recoup part of the Designated Players' salary cap value.
- Landon Donovan is no longer grandfathered into the rule and must be considered a Designated Player.
- Each team is allowed two Designated Player spots, and they can no longer trade their Designated Player spots. The New York Red Bulls will receive $70,000 in allocation money in return for the nullification of their 2007 trade with Chivas USA for an additional Designated Player spot. This means that both New York and Chivas USA will have two Designated Player spots for the 2010 season.
- Teams can pay a $250,000 "luxury tax" for the right to sign a third Designated Player. This $250,000 would be distributed equally to all MLS teams that have not signed a third Designated Player in the form of allocation money.
The 2012 changes:[11]
Starting with the 2012 season, the rule was changed with respect to younger players. MLS announced the changes in August 2011 after clubs expressed concern about signing young international players with no guarantees that they would develop into stars.
- Designated Players over the age of 23 will carry a salary budget charge of $350,000, unless the player joins his club in the middle of the season, in which case his budget charge will be $175,000.
- Designated Players 21–23 years old count as $200,000 against the club's salary budget.
- Designated Players 20 years old or younger count as $150,000 against the club's salary budget.
- The budget charge for the midseason signing of a young Designated Player (23 years old and younger) is $150,000 and this amount cannot be lowered with allocation funds.
- Clubs will not have to buy the third DP roster slot to accommodate Designated Players 23 years old and younger.
- Age of player is determined by year (not date) of birth.
The maximum budget charge for Designated Players over age 23 was increased to $368,750 for 2013, $387,500 in 2014, $436,250 in 2015, $457,500 in 2016, and $480,625 in 2017. The budget charge for those who join during the midseason transfer window has remained at one-half of the full-season cap charge since the inception of the rule. The budget charges for younger players have not changed since 2012.[12]
Background
[edit]The rule is informally named after David Beckham, in anticipation of MLS teams signing lucrative deals with internationally recognized players of Beckham's caliber.[1][2] Beckham was the first player to be signed under this rule, signing a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy worth up to $250 million over five years, with direct guaranteed compensation from MLS and Galaxy at $6.5 million a year.[3]
Current Designated Players
[edit]- As of October 29, 2025[13]
Notes
- Chart indicates when players signed their current Designated Player contract, not necessarily their first year in MLS.
- Other players in MLS may also be paid a salary that takes them above the Designated Player threshold, but they have had their salary reduced against the salary cap using General or Targeted Allocation Money.[15]
- Player salaries may be below the Designated Player threshold, but their transfer fee might mean the total compensation takes them above the threshold.
- Player salaries include compensation from their MLS contract, not including any bonuses or compensation from contracts with individual teams or their affiliates.
† Player on loan at another club outside MLS
‡ Player on loan from another club inside MLS
Club DP history
[edit]- As of July 1, 2025[16]
Notes
- The below list indicates players who have had their contract assigned as a Designated Player (DP) contract during their time in MLS. Players may have not always have had a DP contract, or have later had their contract negotiated below a DP level. Similarly, some players have been in MLS whose salary has been at a DP level, but the club has opted to bring their salary below the DP threshold using General Allocation Money or Targeted Allocation Money. Their listed "Years as DP" indicates what seasons they were active as a DP for that club only. Players in bold are currently signed to a DP contract by their club.
- Former MLS sides Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dissolved before the introduction of the Designated Player Rule.
Atlanta United FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
 Héctor Villalba
|
 San Lorenzo
|
2017 |
| Miguel Almirón
|
Lanús
|
2017–2018, 2025– |
 Josef Martínez
|
 Torino
|
2017–2022 |
| Esequiel Barco
|
Independiente
|
2018–2021 |
| Pity Martínez
|
River Plate
|
2019–2020 |
| Marcelino Moreno
|
Lanús
|
2020 |
| Alan Franco
|
Independiente
|
2021 |
 Luiz Araújo
|
 Lille
|
2021–2023 |
| Thiago Almada
|
Vélez Sarsfield
|
2022–2024 |
 Giorgos Giakoumakis
|
 Celtic
|
2023–2024 |
 Saba Lobzhanidze
|
 Hatayspor
|
2023 |
 Stian Rode Gregersen
|
Bordeaux
|
2024 |
 Aleksei Miranchuk
|
Atalanta
|
2024– |
 Emmanuel Latte Lath
|
 Middlesbrough
|
2025– |
Austin FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Cecilio Domínguez
|
Independiente
|
2021–2022 |
| Tomás Pochettino
|
Talleres
|
2021 |
| Sebastián Driussi
|
Zenit Saint Petersburg
|
2021–2024 |
 Alexander Ring
|
 New York City FC
|
2022–2024[17] |
| Emiliano Rigoni
|
São Paulo
|
2022–2024 |
 Osman Bukari
|
 Red Star Belgrade
|
2024– |
| Brandon Vázquez
|
 Monterrey
|
2025– |
 Myrto Uzuni
|
 Granada
|
2025– |
Charlotte FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
 Jordy Alcívar
|
L.D.U. Quito
|
2022 |
 Karol Świderski
|
PAOK
|
2022–2023, 2024 |
| Kamil Jóźwiak
|
Derby County
|
2022–2023 |
| Enzo Copetti
|
Racing Club
|
2023–2024 |
 Liel Abada
|
Celtic
|
2024– |
| Pep Biel
|
Olympiacos
|
2024 |
| Wilfried Zaha
|
Galatasaray
|
2025– |
Chicago Fire FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Cuauhtémoc Blanco
|
América
|
2007–2009 |
 Freddie Ljungberg
|
Seattle Sounders
|
2010 |
| Nery Castillo
|
 Shakhtar Donetsk
|
2010 |
 Álvaro Fernández
|
Seattle Sounders
|
2012–2013 |
 Sherjill MacDonald
|
 Germinal Beerschot
|
2012–2013 |
| Federico Puppo
|
Danubio
|
2012–2014 |
| Egidio Arévalo Ríos
|
Tijuana
|
2013 |
| Juan Luis Anangonó
|
El Nacional
|
2013–2014 |
| Gilberto
|
 Toronto FC
|
2015–2016 |
| David Accam
|
Helsingborg
|
2015–2017 |
| Shaun Maloney
|
Wigan Athletic
|
2015 |
 Kennedy Igboananike
|
AIK
|
2015–2016 |
 Nemanja Nikolić
|
Legia Warsaw
|
2017–2019 |
 Bastian Schweinsteiger
|
Manchester United
|
2017–2019 |
| Aleksandar Katai
|
Alavés
|
2019 |
 Robert Berić
|
Saint-Étienne
|
2020–2021 |
| Ignacio Aliseda
|
Defensa y Justicia
|
2020–2021 |
| Gastón Giménez
|
Vélez Sarsfield
|
2020–2022, 2024 |
 Xherdan Shaqiri
|
Lyon
|
2022–2024 |
| Jairo Torres
|
Atlas
|
2022–2023 |
| Ousmane Doumbia
|
Lugano
|
2023 |
| Hugo Cuypers
|
Gent
|
2024– |
| Jonathan Bamba
|
Celta Vigo
|
2025– |
Chivas USA (defunct)
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
 Juan Pablo Ángel
|
LA Galaxy
|
2011–2012 |
| Oswaldo Minda
|
Deportivo Quito
|
2012–2014 |
 Shalrie Joseph
|
New England Revolution
|
2012 |
| Erick Torres
|
Guadalajara
|
2013–2014 |
| Mauro Rosales
|
Seattle Sounders
|
2014 |
FC Cincinnati
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Fanendo Adi
|
Portland Timbers
|
2019 |
 Allan Cruz
|
Herediano
|
2019–2020 |
 Yuya Kubo
|
Gent
|
2020, 2021–2022 |
 Jürgen Locadia
|
Brighton & Hove Albion
|
2020–2021 |
| Brenner
|
São Paulo
|
2021–2023 |
| Luciano Acosta
|
Atlas
|
2021–2024 |
| Obinna Nwobodo
|
Göztepe
|
2022–2024 |
 Aaron Boupendza
|
 Al-Shabab
|
2023–2024 |
 Kévin Denkey
|
Cercle Brugge
|
2025– |
| Evander
|
Portland Timbers
|
2025– |
Colorado Rapids
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
 Gabriel Torres
|
Zamora
|
2013–2015 |
| Juan Ramírez
|
Argentinos Juniors
|
2015–2017 |
 Kevin Doyle
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
2015–2016 |
| Shkëlzen Gashi
|
Basel
|
2016–2018 |
| Tim Howard
|
Everton
|
2016–2019 |
 Younes Namli
|
Krasnodar
|
2020–2021 |
| Gyasi Zardes
|
Columbus Crew
|
2022 |
| Kévin Cabral
|
LA Galaxy
|
2023–2025 |
| Andreas Maxsø
|
Brøndby
|
2023 |
| Rafael Navarro
|
Palmeiras
|
2023– |
| Djordje Mihailovic
|
AZ
|
2023–2025 |
| Paxten Aaronson
|
Eintracht Frankfurt
|
2025– |
Columbus Crew
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Guillermo Barros Schelotto
|
Boca Juniors
|
2009–2010 |
 Andrés Mendoza
|
Diyarbakırspor
|
2010–2011 |
| Federico Higuaín
|
Colón
|
2012–2019 |
 Kei Kamara
|
Middlesbrough
|
2016 |
| Jonathan Mensah
|
Anzhi Makhachkala
|
2017 |
 Pedro Santos
|
Braga
|
2017–2019 |
| Gyasi Zardes
|
LA Galaxy
|
2019–2022 |
| Darlington Nagbe
|
Atlanta United
|
2020–2025 |
 Lucas Zelarayán
|
Tigres UANL
|
2020–2023 |
| Cucho Hernández
|
Watford
|
2022–2024 |
| Diego Rossi
|
Fenerbahçe
|
2023– |
| Dániel Gazdag
|
Philadelphia Union
|
2025– |
 Wessam Abou Ali
|
 Al Ahly
|
2025– |
FC Dallas
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Denílson
|
Al-Nassr
|
2007 |
| David Ferreira
|
Atlético Paranaense
|
2009–2013 |
| Fabián Castillo
|
Deportivo Cali
|
2011–2015 |
| Julian de Guzman
|
Toronto FC
|
2012 |
| Eric Hassli
|
Toronto FC
|
2013 |
| Mauro Díaz
|
River Plate
|
2013–2016 |
| Andrés Escobar
|
Dynamo Kyiv
|
2014 |
| David Texeira
|
Groningen
|
2014–2015 |
| Carlos Gruezo
|
VfB Stuttgart
|
2016–2018 |
| Aníbal Chalá
|
El Nacional
|
2017 |
| Cristian Colmán
|
Nacional Asunción
|
2017–2018 |
| Santiago Mosquera
|
Millonarios
|
2018–2020 |
 Bryan Acosta
|
Tenerife
|
2019–2021 |
 Pablo Aránguiz
|
Unión Española
|
2019 |
| Franco Jara
|
Pachuca
|
2020–2022 |
| Jesús Ferreira
|
FC Dallas Academy
|
2022–2024 |
| Alan Velasco
|
Independiente
|
2022–2024 |
 Petar Musa
|
Benfica
|
2024– |
| Luciano Acosta
|
FC Cincinnati
|
2025 |
D.C. United
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Luciano Emílio
|
Olimpia
|
2008–2009 |
| Marcelo Gallardo
|
Paris Saint-Germain
|
2008 |
 Branko Bošković
|
 Rapid Wien
|
2010–2012 |
| Dwayne De Rosario
|
New York Red Bulls
|
2011–2013 |
| Hamdi Salihi
|
Rapid Wien
|
2012 |
| Rafael Gladiador
|
Bahia
|
2013 |
| Eddie Johnson
|
Seattle Sounders
|
2014–2015 |
| Fabián Espíndola
|
New York Red Bulls
|
2015–2016 |
| Paul Arriola
|
Tijuana
|
2017–2021 |
| Wayne Rooney
|
Everton
|
2018–2019 |
| Lucas Rodríguez
|
Estudiantes
|
2019 |
| Edison Flores
|
Morelia
|
2020–2022 |
| Taxiarchis Fountas
|
Rapid Wien
|
2022–2023 |
 Victor Pálsson
|
Schalke 04
|
2022 |
| Christian Benteke
|
Crystal Palace
|
2022– |
| Mateusz Klich
|
Leeds United
|
2023–2025 |
| Matti Peltola
|
HJK
|
2024 |
Houston Dynamo FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Ángel Landín
|
Morelia
|
2009–2010 |
| Boniek García
|
Olimpia
|
2012–2014 |
 Giles Barnes
|
Doncaster Rovers
|
2012–2016 |
| Alexander López
|
Olimpia
|
2013–2014 |
| DaMarcus Beasley
|
Puebla
|
2014–2016 |
| Mauro Manotas
|
Uniautónoma
|
2015–2016, 2020 |
| Erick Torres
|
Guadalajara
|
2015–2017 |
| Alberth Elis
|
Monterrey
|
2017–2020 |
| Tomás Martínez
|
Braga
|
2017–2019 |
| Darwin Quintero
|
Minnesota United
|
2020–2021 |
 Teenage Hadebe
|
Yeni Malatyaspor
|
2021–2023 |
| Sebastián Ferreira
|
Libertad
|
2022–2024 |
| Héctor Herrera
|
Atlético Madrid
|
2022–2024 |
| Ezequiel Ponce
|
AEK Athens
|
2024– |
| Artur
|
Columbus Crew
|
2025– |
 Ondřej Lingr
|
Slavia Prague
|
2025– |
Inter Miami CF
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Matías Pellegrini
|
Estudiantes
|
2020 |
| Rodolfo Pizarro
|
Monterrey
|
2020–2023 |
| Gonzalo Higuaín
|
Juventus
|
2020–2022 |
| Blaise Matuidi
|
Juventus
|
2021 |
| Gregore
|
Bahia
|
2021–2023 |
| Alejandro Pozuelo
|
Toronto FC
|
2022 |
| Leonardo Campana
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
2023–2024 |
| Lionel Messi
|
Paris Saint-Germain
|
2023– |
| Sergio Busquets
|
Barcelona
|
2023– |
| Jordi Alba
|
Barcelona
|
2025– |
Sporting Kansas City
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Claudio López
|
Racing Club
|
2008 |
| Omar Bravo
|
Guadalajara
|
2011 |
| Jéferson
|
Vasco da Gama
|
2011 |
| Claudio Bieler
|
L.D.U. Quito
|
2013–2014 |
| Matt Besler
|
University of Notre Dame
|
2014–2016 |
| Graham Zusi
|
University of Maryland
|
2014–2017 |
| Roger Espinoza
|
Wigan Athletic
|
2015–2018 |
| Diego Rubio
|
Valladolid
|
2016 |
 Gerso Fernandes
|
Belenenses
|
2017 |
| Yohan Croizet
|
Mechelen
|
2018–2019 |
| Felipe Gutiérrez
|
Real Betis
|
2018–2020 |
| Johnny Russell
|
Derby County
|
2019–2024 |
| Alan Pulido
|
Guadalajara
|
2020–2024 |
| Gadi Kinda
|
Beitar Jerusalem
|
2021–2023 |
| Nemanja Radoja
|
Levante
|
2024 |
| Dániel Sallói
|
Újpest
|
2024 |
| Dejan Joveljić
|
LA Galaxy
|
2025– |
| Manu García
|
Aris
|
2025– |
LA Galaxy
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| David Beckham
|
Real Madrid
|
2007–2012 |
| Landon Donovan
|
Bayer Leverkusen
|
2010–2014 |
| Juan Pablo Ángel
|
New York Red Bulls
|
2011 |
| Robbie Keane
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
2011–2016 |
| Omar Gonzalez
|
University of Maryland
|
2013–2015 |
| Steven Gerrard
|
Liverpool
|
2015–2016 |
| Giovani dos Santos
|
Villarreal
|
2015–2018 |
| Jelle Van Damme
|
Standard Liège
|
2016–2017[18] |
| Romain Alessandrini
|
Marseille
|
2017–2019 |
| Jonathan dos Santos
|
Villarreal
|
2017–2021 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović
|
Manchester United
|
2019 |
| Cristian Pavón
|
Boca Juniors
|
2020 |
| Javier Hernández
|
Sevilla
|
2020–2023 |
| Kévin Cabral
|
Valenciennes
|
2021–2022 |
| Douglas Costa
|
Juventus
|
2022–2023 |
| Riqui Puig
|
Barcelona
|
2023– |
| Gabriel Pec
|
Vasco da Gama
|
2024– |
| Joseph Paintsil
|
Genk
|
2024– |
Los Angeles FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Vela
|
Real Sociedad
|
2018–2023 |
| Diego Rossi
|
Peñarol
|
2018–2021 |
| André Horta
|
Benfica
|
2018–2019 |
| Brian Rodríguez
|
Peñarol
|
2019–2021 |
| Denis Bouanga
|
Saint-Étienne
|
2022– |
| Eduard Atuesta
|
Palmeiras
|
2024 |
| Olivier Giroud
|
AC Milan
|
2024–2025 |
| Cengiz Ünder
|
Fenerbahçe
|
2025 |
 Son Heung-min
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
2025– |
Minnesota United FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Darwin Quintero
|
América
|
2018–2019 |
| Ángelo Rodríguez
|
Deportes Tolima
|
2018–2019 |
 Ján Greguš
|
Copenhagen
|
2019–2021 |
| Thomás Chacón
|
Danubio
|
2019–2020 |
| Emanuel Reynoso
|
Boca Juniors
|
2020–2024 |
| Adrien Hunou
|
Rennes
|
2021–2022 |
| Luis Amarilla
|
Vélez Sarsfield
|
2022–2023 |
| Ménder García
|
Once Caldas
|
2022–2023 |
| Teemu Pukki
|
Norwich City
|
2023–2024 |
| Kelvin Yeboah
|
Genoa
|
2024– |
| Joaquín Pereyra
|
Atlético Tucumán
|
2024– |
CF Montréal
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Marco Di Vaio
|
Bologna
|
2012–2014 |
| Hernán Bernardello
|
Almería
|
2013–2014 |
| Ignacio Piatti
|
San Lorenzo
|
2014–2019 |
| Didier Drogba
|
Chelsea
|
2015–2016 |
| Lucas Ontivero
|
Galatasaray
|
2016 |
| Blerim Džemaili
|
Bologna
|
2017 |
 Saphir Taïder
|
Bologna
|
2018–2020 |
 Victor Wanyama
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
2020–2024 |
| Aljaž Struna
|
Houston Dynamo
|
2021 |
| Djordje Mihailovic
|
Chicago Fire
|
2021 |
| Giacomo Vrioni
|
New England Revolution
|
2025 |
| Iván Jaime
|
Porto
|
2025– |
Nashville SC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Hany Mukhtar[19]
|
Brøndby
|
2020– |
| Randall Leal
|
Saprissa
|
2020–2021 |
| Jhonder Cádiz
|
Benfica
|
2020–2021 |
| Aké Arnaud Loba
|
Monterrey
|
2021–2023 |
| Walker Zimmerman
|
Los Angeles FC
|
2022–2025 |
| Sam Surridge
|
Nottingham Forest
|
2023– |
New England Revolution
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Milton Caraglio
|
Rosario Central
|
2011 |
| Shalrie Joseph
|
New York Freedom
|
2012 |
| Jerry Bengtson
|
Motagua
|
2012–2014 |
| Jermaine Jones
|
Beşiktaş
|
2014–2015 |
| José Gonçalves
|
Sion
|
2016 |
| Xavier Kouassi
|
Sion
|
2016–2017 |
| Kei Kamara
|
Columbus Crew
|
2016–2017 |
| Claude Dielna
|
Sheffield Wednesday
|
2018 |
| Carles Gil
|
Deportivo La Coruña
|
2019– |
| Gustavo Bou
|
Tijuana
|
2019–2023 |
| Adam Buksa
|
Pogoń Szczecin
|
2020–2022 |
| Giacomo Vrioni
|
Juventus
|
2022–2024 |
| Tomás Chancalay
|
Racing Club
|
2024– |
| Matt Turner
|
Lyon
|
2025– |
New York City FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| David Villa
|
Atlético Madrid
|
2014–2018 |
| Frank Lampard
|
Manchester City
|
2015–2016 |
| Andrea Pirlo
|
Juventus
|
2015–2017 |
| Maximiliano Moralez
|
León
|
2017–2021 |
| Jesús Medina
|
Libertad
|
2018–2021 |
 Alexandru Mitriță
|
Universitatea Craiova
|
2019–2020 |
| Talles Magno
|
Vasco da Gama
|
2021– |
| Thiago Martins
|
Yokohama F. Marinos
|
2022– |
| Santiago Rodríguez
|
Montevideo City Torque
|
2023–2025 |
| Nicolás Fernández
|
Elche
|
2025– |
New York Red Bulls
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Claudio Reyna
|
Manchester City
|
2007–2008 |
| Juan Pablo Ángel
|
Aston Villa
|
2007–2010 |
| Thierry Henry
|
Barcelona
|
2010–2014 |
| Rafael Márquez
|
Barcelona
|
2010–2012 |
| Frank Rost
|
Hamburger SV
|
2011 |
 Tim Cahill
|
Everton
|
2012–2014 |
| Bradley Wright-Phillips
|
Charlton Athletic
|
2015–2016, 2017–2019 |
| Gonzalo Verón
|
San Lorenzo
|
2015–2017 |
| Sacha Kljestan
|
Anderlecht
|
2016–2017 |
| Omer Damari
|
RB Leipzig
|
2016 |
| Kaku
|
Huracán
|
2018–2021 |
| Josh Sims
|
Southampton
|
2019–2020 |
| Dru Yearwood
|
Brentford
|
2020–2021 |
| Patryk Klimala
|
Celtic
|
2021–2022 |
| Luquinhas
|
Legia Warsaw
|
2022–2023 |
| Dante Vanzeir
|
Union SG
|
2023–2024 |
| Emil Forsberg
|
RB Leipzig
|
2024– |
| Felipe Carballo
|
Grêmio
|
2024 |
 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
|
Bayern Munich
|
2025– |
Orlando City SC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Kaká
|
Milan
|
2014–2017 |
| Carlos Rivas
|
Deportivo Cali
|
2015–2017 |
| Bryan Róchez
|
Real España
|
2015–2016 |
| Matías Pérez García
|
San Jose Earthquakes
|
2016–2017 |
| Giles Barnes
|
Vancouver Whitecaps
|
2017 |
| Yoshimar Yotún
|
Malmö FF
|
2017 |
| Dom Dwyer
|
Sporting Kansas City
|
2018–2020 |
| Sacha Kljestan
|
New York Red Bulls
|
2018 |
| Josué Colmán
|
Cerro Porteño
|
2018–2019 |
| Nani
|
Sporting CP
|
2019–2021 |
| Mauricio Pereyra
|
Krasnodar
|
2019–2022 |
| Facundo Torres
|
Peñarol
|
2022–2024 |
| Ercan Kara
|
Rapid Wien
|
2022–2023 |
| Martín Ojeda
|
Godoy Cruz
|
2023– |
| Luis Muriel
|
Atalanta
|
2024– |
| Marco Pašalić
|
HNK Rijeka
|
2025– |
Philadelphia Union
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Freddy Adu
|
Benfica
|
2011–2012 |
| José Kléberson
|
Bahia
|
2013 |
| Cristian Maidana
|
Rangers de Talca
|
2014–2015 |
| Maurice Edu
|
Stoke City
|
2014–2017 |
| Fernando Aristeguieta
|
Nantes
|
2015 |
| Alejandro Bedoya
|
Nantes
|
2016–2019 |
| Bořek Dočkal
|
 Henan Jianye
|
2018 |
| Marco Fabián
|
Eintracht Frankfurt
|
2019 |
 Jamiro Monteiro
|
Metz
|
2020–2021 |
| Julián Carranza
|
Inter Miami
|
2022–2024 |
| Mikael Uhre
|
Brøndby
|
2022– |
| Dániel Gazdag
|
Budapest Honvéd
|
2023–2025 |
| Bruno Damiani
|
Nacional
|
2025– |
Portland Timbers
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Diego Chará
|
Deportes Tolima
|
2011–2013 |
| Kris Boyd
|
Eskişehirspor
|
2012 |
| Diego Valeri
|
Lanús
|
2013–2019 |
| Fanendo Adi
|
Copenhagen
|
2014–2015, 2016–2018 |
| Liam Ridgewell
|
West Bromwich Albion
|
2014–2016 |
| Lucas Melano
|
Lanús
|
2015–2016, 2019 |
| Sebastián Blanco
|
San Lorenzo
|
2017–2023 |
| Brian Fernández
|
Necaxa
|
2019 |
| Yimmi Chará
|
Atlético Mineiro
|
2020–2023 |
| Jarosław Niezgoda
|
Legia Warsaw
|
2020–2023 |
| Evander
|
Midtjylland
|
2023–2024 |
| Jonathan Rodríguez
|
América
|
2024–2025 |
| David da Costa
|
Lens
|
2025– |
| Kristoffer Velde
|
Olympiacos
|
2025– |
| Felipe Carballo
|
Grêmio
|
2025– |
Real Salt Lake
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Álvaro Saborío
|
Sion
|
2011–2015 |
| Javier Morales
|
Vecindario
|
2011–2015 |
| Kyle Beckerman
|
Colorado Rapids
|
2015 |
| Joao Plata
|
Toronto FC
|
2015–2016 |
| Sebastián Jaime
|
Unión Española
|
2014–2015 |
| Juan Manuel Martínez
|
Boca Juniors
|
2015–2016 |
| Yura Movsisyan
|
Spartak Moscow
|
2016–2017 |
| Albert Rusnák
|
Groningen
|
2017–2021 |
| Jefferson Savarino
|
Zulia Atlético Mineiro
|
2017–2019 2022–2023 |
 Sam Johnson
|
Vålerenga
|
2019–2020 |
| Jeizon Ramírez
|
Deportivo Táchira
|
2020–2021 |
| Damir Kreilach
|
Union Berlin
|
2020–2023 |
| Cristian Arango
|
Pachuca
|
2023–2024 |
| Diogo Gonçalves
|
Copenhagen
|
2024– |
| Rwan Cruz
|
Botafogo
|
2025– |
St. Louis City SC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| João Klauss
|
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
|
2023– |
| Eduard Löwen
|
Hertha BSC
|
2023–2024 |
| Marcel Hartel
|
FC St. Pauli
|
2024– |
San Diego FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Hirving Lozano
|
PSV Eindhoven
|
2025– |
| Anders Dreyer
|
Anderlecht
|
2025– |
San Jose Earthquakes
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Geovanni
|
Hull City
|
2010 |
| Chris Wondolowski
|
Houston Dynamo
|
2013–2019 |
| Matías Pérez García
|
Tigre
|
2014–2016 |
| Innocent Emeghara
|
 Qarabağ
|
2015–2016 |
| Simon Dawkins
|
Derby County
|
2016–2017 |
| Valeri Qazaishvili
|
Vitesse
|
2017–2020 |
| Magnus Eriksson
|
Djurgårdens IF
|
2018 |
| Cristian Espinoza
|
Villarreal
|
2020– |
| Javier Eduardo López
|
Guadalajara
|
2021–2022 |
| Jamiro Monteiro
|
Philadelphia Union
|
2022–2023 |
| Carlos Gruezo
|
FC Augsburg
|
2023–2025 |
| Hernán López
|
Godoy Cruz
|
2024–2025 |
| Cristian Arango
|
Real Salt Lake
|
2025– |
Seattle Sounders FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Freddie Ljungberg
|
West Ham United
|
2009–2010 |
| Álvaro Fernández
|
Nacional
|
2010–2012 |
| Blaise Nkufo
|
Twente
|
2010 |
| Fredy Montero
|
Deportivo Cali
|
2011-2012 |
| Mauro Rosales
|
River Plate
|
2011–2013 |
| Christian Tiffert
|
Kaiserslautern
|
2012–2013 |
| Shalrie Joseph
|
Chivas USA
|
2013 |
| Obafemi Martins
|
Levante
|
2013–2015 |
| Clint Dempsey
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
2013–2018 |
 Osvaldo Alonso
|
Charleston Battery
|
2014–2018 |
| Nelson Valdez
|
Eintracht Frankfurt
|
2015–2016 |
| Nicolás Lodeiro
|
Boca Juniors
|
2016–2023 |
| Raúl Ruidíaz
|
Morelia
|
2018–2024 |
| Víctor Rodríguez
|
Sporting Gijón
|
2019 |
| Xavier Arreaga
|
Barcelona S.C.
|
2019 |
| João Paulo
|
Botafogo
|
2020–2021 |
| Albert Rusnák
|
Real Salt Lake
|
2022– |
| Pedro de la Vega
|
Lanús
|
2024– |
| Jordan Morris
|
Seattle Sounders Academy
|
2025– |
Toronto FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Julian de Guzman
|
Deportivo La Coruña
|
2009–2012 |
| Mista
|
Deportivo La Coruña
|
2010 |
| Danny Koevermans
|
PSV Eindhoven
|
2011–2013 |
| Torsten Frings
|
Werder Bremen
|
2011–2012 |
| Eric Hassli
|
Vancouver Whitecaps
|
2012 |
| Matías Laba
|
Argentinos Juniors
|
2013 |
| Gilberto
|
Internacional
|
2014 |
| Michael Bradley
|
Roma
|
2014–2019 |
| Jermain Defoe
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
2014–2015 |
| Sebastian Giovinco
|
Juventus
|
2015–2018 |
| Jozy Altidore
|
Sunderland
|
2015–2021 |
| Alejandro Pozuelo
|
Genk
|
2019–2022 |
| Pablo Piatti
|
Espanyol
|
2020 |
| Yeferson Soteldo
|
Santos
|
2021 |
| Carlos Salcedo
|
Tigres UANL
|
2022 |
| Lorenzo Insigne
|
Napoli
|
2022–2025 |
| Federico Bernardeschi
|
Juventus
|
2022–2025 |
| Jonathan Osorio
|
SC Toronto
|
2023–2024 |
| Richie Laryea
|
Nottingham Forest
|
2024 |
| Djordje Mihailovic
|
Colorado Rapids
|
2025– |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
[edit]| Player | Previous club | Years as DP |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Hassli
|
Zürich
|
2011–2012 |
 Mustapha Jarju
|
Mons
|
2011 |
| Barry Robson
|
Middlesbrough
|
2012 |
| Kenny Miller
|
 Cardiff City
|
2012–2014 |
| Matías Laba
|
Toronto FC
|
2014–2017 |
| Mauro Rosales
|
Chivas USA
|
2014 |
| Pedro Morales
|
Málaga
|
2014–2016 |
| Octavio Rivero
|
O'Higgins
|
2015–2016 |
| Fredy Montero
|
Tianjin TEDA Sporting CP
|
2017 2019 |
| Brek Shea
|
Orlando City
|
2017–2018 |
| Kendall Waston
|
Saprissa
|
2018 |
| Hwang In-beom
|
Daejeon Citizen
|
2019–2020 |
| Joaquín Ardaiz
|
Chiasso
|
2019 |
 Ali Adnan Kadhim
|
Udinese
|
2019–2021 |
| Lucas Cavallini
|
Puebla
|
2020–2022 |
| Ryan Gauld
|
Farense
|
2021– |
| Andrés Cubas
|
Nîmes
|
2022– |
| Sergio Córdova
|
FC Augsburg
|
2023 |
| Stuart Armstrong
|
Southampton
|
2024 |
Past and present Designated Players by country
[edit]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wahl, Grant (November 28, 2011). "Hollywood Ending: If this was indeed David Beckham's final game in MLS, he went out in style, carrying the Galaxy to a championship and affirming the value of star power in America". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
In the first four seasons of MLS's Beckham Rule, which allowed clubs to sign up to three designated players outside the salary cap, ....
- ^ a b Lansley, Pete (April 13, 2007). "Becks could be the next American idol". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 14, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ a b "PlayersUnion". Mlsplayers.org. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ "Beckham hopes to make US history". BBC. January 12, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ Goff, Steven (April 26, 2006). "Palencia Has Richest MLS Salary". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ Mickle, Tripp (November 26, 2007). "Debate highlights MLS salary cap split". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c Bell, Jack (March 18, 2009). "In M.L.S., Designated Players Do Not Guarantee Great Expectations". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- ^ "Galaxy, Milan, Inter wait on Becks". CNN. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Fulham complete Johnson signing". BBC Sport. January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
- ^ Mayers, Joshua (April 1, 2010). "Major League Soccer adds second DP slot, can purchase a third (league release)". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ^ "2012 MLS Roster Rules". mlssocer.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012.
- ^ "Roster Rules and Regulations". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ "A Look into NYCFC's 2014 Payroll (or "David Villa is making k")". Empire of Soccer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "2024 MLS Player Salaries". Major League Soccer Players Union.
- ^ "MLS Roster Rules and Regulations - MLSsoccer.com". Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- ^ "Former MLS Designated Players". Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ "Austin FC Acquires $1,075,000 in General Allocation Money". Austin FC. August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Jelle van Damme completes exit from LA Galaxy and joins Royal Antwerp". espnfc.us. ESPN. August 18, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Roster | Nashville SC".
External links
[edit]- Designated Players glossary entry at MLSsoccer.com
| Eastern Conference | |
|---|---|
| Western Conference | |
| Former teams |
|
| Personnel | |
| Competition | |
| Associated competitions | |
| Other | |
Designated Player Rule
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The Designated Player Rule (DPR), often referred to as the Beckham Rule, is a key roster regulation in Major League Soccer (MLS) that enables each of the league's 30 clubs to sign up to three players under the Designated Player Model, which teams may select as their roster construction option for 2025, whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the maximum salary budget charge of $743,750 for the 2025 season, thereby allowing teams to acquire high-profile international stars without fully impacting their salary cap.[1][2]
Introduced in 2007 as a targeted exception to MLS's strict single-entity salary cap structure, the rule was specifically designed to facilitate the signing of English soccer icon David Beckham by the Los Angeles Galaxy, whose $6.5 million annual salary far surpassed the league's then-$2.28 million team budget.[3][4]
This mechanism assigns a fixed budget charge against the team's salary allocation—$743,750 for Designated Players (DPs) aged 24 or older (or half that amount if signed after the secondary transfer window)—while the club covers any excess salary, often using general allocation money to buy down the charge to no less than $150,000.[1][5]
For younger talents, reduced charges apply: $150,000 for players aged 20 or under, and $200,000 for those aged 21 to 23, encouraging investment in emerging stars.[1]
Clubs are not required to use all three slots, but acquiring a third DP incurs a $150,000 league fee (waived for Young DPs), which is redistributed to teams with two or fewer slots to promote competitive balance.[1][6]
DPs are non-tradable slots, but players themselves can be traded after their second season (with a limit of one per year per club), and the receiving team inherits the DP designation.[1]
Since its inception, the DPR has transformed MLS by enabling landmark signings such as Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, 2023), Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy, 2018), and Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls, 2007), boosting global visibility, attendance, and revenue while preserving the league's financial discipline.[4][7]
In the rule's early years (2007-2015), European nationalities predominated, as clubs targeted established stars from leagues like the English Premier League and Ligue 1 to boost visibility and competitiveness.[61] This shifted post-2018 toward South America, driven by cost-effective access to skilled players from Argentina and Brazil amid evolving global transfer dynamics.[60] Concurrently, the proportion of U.S. homegrown Designated Players has increased to about 15% of the total by 2025, reflecting strengthened domestic academies and the league's emphasis on retaining American talent.[60]
A prominent recent development is the surge in Argentine Designated Players, with more than 10 signed since 2023, largely attributed to the "Messi effect" following Lionel Messi's high-profile move to Inter Miami CF, which heightened interest in Argentine talent across the league.[62] African nationalities, though less represented overall, account for 15 Designated Players historically, including notable contributions from countries like Morocco, adding depth to MLS rosters from the continent.[63]
Definition and Mechanics
Purpose and Overview
The Designated Player Rule in Major League Soccer (MLS) permits each club to sign up to three players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the league's Maximum Salary Budget Charge, without those excess amounts counting against the team's salary cap space.[1] This mechanism enables teams to allocate the full Maximum Salary Budget Charge—currently $743,750 for players aged 24 and older—toward a Designated Player's budget impact, while the club covers any additional salary or transfer fees directly.[1] The primary purpose of the rule is to allow MLS clubs to attract high-profile international talent that would otherwise be unaffordable under the league's strict salary cap, thereby enhancing team competitiveness on the field while boosting overall league visibility and revenue through increased fan engagement and global media attention.[3] By maintaining financial parity among teams—ensuring no single club can dominate through unchecked spending—the rule balances the need for marquee signings with the league's commitment to equitable competition.[3] Often nicknamed the "Beckham Rule," it originated in 2007 specifically to facilitate David Beckham's signing with the LA Galaxy at an annual salary of $6.5 million, marking the first use of this exemption.[8] Eligibility for Designated Player status applies to both new signings and existing players acquired via trade, with no restrictions on nationality, though international players are still subject to the league's separate international roster slot requirements.[9] Currently, every MLS team is allocated three such slots. Unused slots can be traded to other clubs in exchange for assets like allocation money or draft picks, providing flexibility in roster construction.[1]Salary Cap Exemption Process
Clubs seeking to designate a player under the Designated Player Rule must submit the player's contract to Major League Soccer (MLS) for approval prior to signing. The league evaluates the contract to determine the player's Designated Player status, assigning a Salary Budget Charge based on the player's age and the timing of the signing. For a senior Designated Player who is at least 24 years old during the league year, this charge is set at the Maximum Salary Budget Charge of $743,750 in 2025.[1] The exemption mechanics allow the club to pay the player's salary above this budget charge entirely outside the salary cap, providing financial flexibility to acquire high-profile talent. However, the fixed budget charge is applied to the team's overall salary budget, ensuring some fiscal accountability while exempting the excess compensation. This structure enables teams to sign players whose total compensation exceeds the league's individual maximum salary threshold without fully burdening the capped roster.[1] Each MLS club is allocated up to three Designated Player slots, which must be declared as part of the team's roster construction model by February 21, 2025. Unused slots can be traded to other clubs, often in exchange for assets like allocation money or draft picks, but the slots themselves are not independently transferable. International Designated Players also occupy one of the club's limited international roster spots (a maximum of eight per team), which can be traded in full-season increments across the league's total of 241 such spots.[1] To manage costs, clubs have the option to "buy down" a Designated Player's budget charge using General Allocation Money, reducing the charge applied to the salary cap but not below a minimum of $150,000. This mechanism allows teams to reallocate resources more efficiently within their budget constraints.[1] For midseason signings, special provisions apply to partial-year contracts, with the budget charge prorated based on the remaining league year. In 2025, a senior Designated Player joining after the Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 24 will carry a reduced charge of $371,875, reflecting the shorter duration of the contract. This prorated approach accommodates roster adjustments during the season while maintaining the rule's financial balance.[1]Budget Charges and Allocation Money
The budget charge for a Designated Player in Major League Soccer represents the amount counted against a team's salary cap, regardless of the player's actual compensation, allowing clubs to exceed the individual maximum salary limit for these players. For senior Designated Players aged 24 or older in 2025, this charge is $743,750 for a full-season signing, reduced to $371,875 if the player joins after the Secondary Transfer Window opens. Under-24 Designated Players incur reduced budget charges, capped at a maximum of $200,000 for players aged 21-23 or $150,000 for those 20 and younger, with mid-season signings for under-24 players set at $150,000. These charges enable teams to allocate the difference between a player's full salary and the budget charge as non-cap funds, facilitating the signing of high-earning talent while maintaining competitive balance. Allocation money serves as a key financial tool to mitigate these budget charges and enhance roster flexibility. General Allocation Money (GAM), provided at a base of $2.93 million per club in 2025, can be applied to reduce a Designated Player's salary budget charge down to a minimum of $150,000, though the reduction is limited to the lesser of 50% of the original charge or down to a minimum of $150,000. Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), allocated at $2.225 million per team in 2025, functions similarly but is specifically designed for buying down Designated Players to non-Designated status, capping the charge at or below $743,750 while adhering to the $150,000 floor; unlike GAM, TAM phases out over time under the collective bargaining agreement. Neither GAM nor TAM can be used to cover international transfer fees, limiting their application to domestic transactions and salary adjustments. Teams can acquire an additional Designated Player slot—typically the third—by paying a $150,000 fee to the league, which is redistributed as GAM to other clubs; this fee is waived if the slot is used for an under-24 player. Trading for extra slots is possible through asset exchanges, though no fixed $1.2 million allocation threshold is mandated, with negotiations often involving GAM or other considerations. Additionally, caps limit GAM usage for Under-22 Initiative conversions, such as a maximum of $1 million in additional GAM when switching from the Designated Player model mid-season, ensuring controlled spending. The effective budget charge after allocation is calculated by subtracting the applied allocation money from the maximum charge. For instance, applying $500,000 in GAM to a senior Designated Player's $743,750 charge results in a remaining $243,750 against the cap. This mechanism underscores the rule's role in balancing fiscal constraints with talent acquisition, as teams strategically deploy allocation to optimize cap space.Historical Development
Origins in 2007
Prior to the introduction of the Designated Player Rule, Major League Soccer (MLS) operated under a strict salary cap to ensure financial stability following the collapse of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1984, which had failed due to overspending on high-profile talent without sustainable revenue streams.[10] By 2006, the league's salary cap stood at approximately $1.9 million per team, limiting the ability to sign international stars and hindering growth in a competitive global market.[11] This structure prioritized parity and longevity over marquee signings, but as MLS sought to elevate its profile post-World Cup 1994 hosting duties, league officials recognized the need for star power to attract fans, sponsors, and media attention without jeopardizing the cap system. The Designated Player Rule, often called the "Beckham Rule," emerged directly from negotiations to sign English superstar David Beckham, whose arrival catalyzed its formal adoption in late 2006 ahead of the 2007 season. In January 2007, the LA Galaxy secured Beckham on a five-year contract valued at $32.5 million, far exceeding the salary cap and requiring the league to subsidize the excess to avoid impacting team budgets.[12] The rule allowed each team one Designated Player slot, with the player's salary above a set threshold—$400,000 in 2007—charged minimally against the cap, while the league covered the remainder through a pool funded by all clubs.[13] Teams could acquire a second slot via trade, but no age-based distinctions existed initially, enabling signings of established veterans without roster restrictions tied to youth. Early adoption beyond Beckham demonstrated the rule's immediate viability, as other clubs leveraged it to import talent. In April 2007, the Chicago Fire signed Mexican icon Cuauhtémoc Blanco as their first Designated Player on a multi-year deal, making him one of the league's initial high-profile imports alongside Beckham and New York Red Bulls' Juan Pablo Ángel.[14] Blanco's arrival exemplified how the rule facilitated targeted acquisitions of global stars to boost local fanbases. The 2007 season marked the first with Designated Players on the pitch, debuting in MLS matches and friendlies that drew unprecedented crowds.[15] The rule's debut yielded swift positive effects on league visibility and economics. Beckham's presence alone propelled MLS average attendance up 9% from 2006 to 16,459 per game, with Galaxy home matches averaging over 24,000 spectators.[16] Television viewership surged, contributing to enhanced broadcast deals; MLS's existing ESPN/ABC agreement, valued at around $8 million annually, saw increased exposure and laid groundwork for future expansions.[17] These gains underscored the rule's role in bridging MLS's developmental phase with broader commercial appeal.[18]Key Changes and Expansions
In 2010, Major League Soccer expanded the Designated Player Rule to grant every team a second DP slot as standard, while introducing the option for clubs to purchase a third slot for $250,000 in allocation money, distributed among non-purchasing teams, effectively making the third slot a permanent fixture available league-wide. This update also enabled the trading of DP slots for the first time, with the Seattle Sounders completing the inaugural such trade by sending Freddie Ljungberg to the Chicago Fire in July 2010. Additionally, the rule was structured without inherent expiration dates for DP designations, allowing contracts to extend beyond initial terms without automatic reversion to standard roster rules. By 2012, the league refined the budget charge structure to incentivize younger talent, assigning lower cap hits based on age: $150,000 for players 20 or under, $200,000 for those aged 21-23, and $350,000 as the maximum for players 24 and older, thereby reducing financial barriers for under-30 signings compared to older stars. This age-based tiering aimed to balance competitive spending while promoting long-term development. Between 2015 and 2017, MLS introduced Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in 2015 as a pool of funds—initially $500,000 per team, rising to $1.2 million by 2017—for targeted signings or buy-downs of player salaries, including DPs, to facilitate acquisitions without fully exempting high earners from the cap. During this period, DP trade mechanics were standardized, permitting the amortization of acquisition costs over contract length and clarifying slot transfers, which streamlined inter-club deals. In the 2020s, the U22 Initiative, launched ahead of the 2020 season following 2019 planning, integrated with the DP Rule by allowing mutual conversions between U22 slots (for players 22 and under at reduced cap charges) and traditional DP designations, providing roster flexibility for emerging international talent. For 2025, enhancements to General Allocation Money (GAM) enabled unlimited buy-downs of DP salary budget charges to a minimum of $150,000, while new rules permitted cash-only trades between MLS clubs without allocation requirements, directly impacting DP acquisitions by easing internal transfers of high-profile players. By 2025, the rule had facilitated the signing of over 250 Designated Players across league history, including global icons like Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami CF in 2023 as a marquee addition that exemplified the mechanism's role in elevating MLS's profile.Variants and Related Rules
Young Designated Player Rule
The Young Designated Player Rule is a variant of Major League Soccer's Designated Player mechanism designed specifically for players aged 23 or younger during the league year, determined by the player's birth year rather than exact date.[1] This classification allows clubs to sign promising young talent to contracts that exceed the league's salary cap limits while incurring a reduced salary budget charge compared to standard Designated Players. Introduced in 2012, the rule aims to incentivize MLS teams to invest in emerging international and domestic prospects by lowering financial barriers, thereby fostering the development of future stars without the full budgetary impact of senior-level signings.[19][20] Eligibility requires the player to be 23 or younger at the time of signing, and the designation occupies one of a club's three available Designated Player slots, though teams do not need to purchase the optional third slot if it is used for a Young Designated Player.[1] The salary budget charge varies by age: $150,000 for players aged 20 or younger, $200,000 for those aged 21 to 23, and a flat $150,000 for midseason signings after the secondary transfer window, with no option to reduce it further using General Allocation Money below these thresholds.[1] These charges apply for the full league year and remain fixed regardless of the player's actual guaranteed compensation, which can exceed the maximum individual salary budget charge of $743,750 in 2025.[1] Upon turning 24 during a league year, a Young Designated Player automatically converts to a standard Designated Player status, incurring the higher maximum salary budget charge unless acquired midseason, at which point the prorated standard charge applies.[20] Designated Player slots themselves are not tradable, but the player can be transferred to another club, with the acquiring team inheriting the remaining years of the contract under the appropriate age-based classification.[1] Notable examples include Brazilian forward Talles Magno, signed by New York City FC in 2021 at age 18 as a Young Designated Player from Vasco da Gama, where he contributed 19 goals and 11 assists across his NYCFC tenure before being loaned out.[21][22] Similarly, Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada joined Atlanta United in 2022 at age 20 as the club's third Young Designated Player, delivering 5 goals and 12 assists in his debut season and earning the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year award, before transitioning to a standard Designated Player role in subsequent years.[23][24] These signings illustrate how the rule has enabled MLS clubs to secure high-potential youth without straining salary cap resources.Homegrown Designated Players as DPs
Homegrown Designated Players represent a pathway for Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs to retain and reward talent developed within their own academies by utilizing the Designated Player (DP) slots for contracts that exceed the league's salary cap. Under the Homegrown Player Mechanism, players who have spent at least one year in a club's youth academy can be signed directly to professional contracts without entering the MLS SuperDraft, allowing clubs to secure above-cap salaries through DP designation if the player's total compensation surpasses the maximum salary budget charge.[1] This process enables internal development to translate into high-value roster spots, with the same budget implications as standard DPs: a charge of $743,750 for players aged 24 or older in 2025, or reduced amounts for younger designations.[1] Eligibility for homegrown status emphasizes academy tenure, typically one to three years, and prioritizes players from the club's local development system, fostering long-term loyalty and cost-effective talent pipelines. Clubs may apply up to $200,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) or General Allocation Money (GAM) toward a homegrown player's first professional contract, excluding those previously signed under the mechanism, which further supports elevating academy products to DP status.[1] A key benefit is the ability to retain promising internal talent without competing in the open market, enhancing squad cohesion and academy investment returns; for instance, off-roster homegrown players under 21 incur no salary budget charge and can participate in unlimited non-league competitions.[1] In 2025, updates to the rules expanded opportunities for off-roster homegrown players, allowing eligibility for up to six MLS league-season matches (an increase from prior limits) alongside unlimited appearances in cup competitions such as the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and Canadian Championship.[25] Additionally, homegrown players who qualify as domestic (e.g., U.S. or Canadian eligible and signed by age 15 for their first MLS contract) do not occupy international roster slots, providing further roster flexibility when designated as DPs.[1] Notable examples illustrate the mechanism's impact: Jesús Ferreira, signed as a homegrown by FC Dallas in 2016, became the club's first homegrown Designated Player in 2022 through a new contract that exceeded the cap, leading to a breakout season with 18 goals and earning him the 2022 MLS Young Player of the Year award.[26] Similarly, Djordje Mihailovic, a Chicago Fire academy product signed as a homegrown in 2017, transitioned to DP status with the Colorado Rapids in 2024 before moving to Toronto FC in 2025, where he occupies a DP slot and has contributed significantly with 44 goals and 61 assists across his MLS career as of November 2025.[27][28] These cases highlight how the rule bridges youth development to elite professional roles, distinct from age-based variants like the Young Designated Player Rule by focusing on academy origins regardless of the player's current age.[1]U22 Initiative and 2025 Updates
The U22 Initiative, introduced by Major League Soccer in 2021, provides clubs with a mechanism to invest in young talent by designating up to three roster spots for players aged 22 or younger, allowing them to sign lucrative contracts while incurring a reduced salary budget charge compared to standard senior roster allocations.[29] These spots occupy positions on the senior roster (slots 1-20), and eligible players must be in their first MLS-eligible season at age 22 or younger, with the ability to remain in U22 slots through age 25 on their initial contract (or first or second for Homegrown players).[1] The initiative's budget charges for 2025 are set at $150,000 for players aged 20 and under, and $200,000 for those aged 21-25, enabling clubs to allocate excess compensation beyond these caps at their discretion without fully impacting the salary budget.[30] In 2025, the U22 Initiative saw deeper integration with the Designated Player (DP) rule to enhance roster flexibility, allowing clubs to select between two models by February 21: either three senior DPs paired with up to three U22 slots, or two senior DPs paired with up to four U22 slots plus an additional $2 million in General Allocation Money (GAM), which must be spent by the September 12 roster freeze.[30] This expansion of the fourth U22 slot, originally optional via a DP trade-off announced in 2024, incentivizes teams with multiple senior DPs to prioritize youth investment while providing extra GAM to buy down salaries or acquire talent.[31] U22 players can be converted to Young Designated Players (YDPs) using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) or GAM, with midseason model switches permitted between July 1 and August 21—such as converting a U22 slot to a DP if no more than $1 million in extra GAM has been used and three or fewer U22 players are active—further linking the mechanisms.[1] Key 2025 roster updates affecting DP and U22 acquisitions include the introduction of unlimited out-of-pocket cash for player trades within MLS, limited to two incoming and two outgoing transactions per club, which streamlines DP signings by allowing direct monetary exchanges without requiring draft picks or allocation money, provided the player fits the relevant slot criteria upon arrival.[2] Proceeds from DP sales or transfers can be converted to GAM at a rate tied to the player's acquisition cost—for instance, up to $3 million in GAM from eligible transfer revenue not exceeding $2.5 million in fees—though this is capped annually to prevent excessive budget inflation.[32] The league's maximum base GAM allotment stands at $2.93 million per club for 2025, with additional amounts available through transfers, trades, or performance incentives, but clubs opting for the enhanced U22 model face a $1 million limit on extra GAM usage for certain conversions.[33] Other refinements include enhanced flexibility for international U22 DPs through tradable slots (one per year, with up to two active) starting in a player's second MLS season, and prorated budget charges for midseason signings to better align with partial-year contributions.[34] Overall, these updates aim to bolster youth development by facilitating access to global under-22 talent and providing financial tools for retention, resulting in numerous U22 Initiative signings across the league as of 2025, many of whom have transitioned to key roles or international transfers.[35]Impacts on Major League Soccer
Competitive Balance
The Designated Player (DP) Rule in Major League Soccer (MLS) has significantly influenced competitive balance by allowing teams to sign high-profile players outside the salary cap, thereby enhancing on-field performance while introducing elements of disparity among clubs. Research indicates that teams with more DPs tend to achieve higher seasonal points and greater playoff success. However, this mechanism also heightens salary dispersion across teams and within squads, with studies showing mixed effects on overall team performance. Allocation money trading has helped mitigate uneven access to DPs by enabling resource-poor clubs to acquire slots or reduce budget charges, fostering a more level playing field. A key advantage of the DP Rule is its ability to empower small-market or expansion teams to compete with established franchises through star signings. For instance, Atlanta United, in its inaugural 2018 season, utilized three DPs—Miguel Almirón, Ezequiel Barco, and Josef Martínez—to secure the MLS Cup, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0 in the final and marking one of the league's most rapid ascents to championship contention. Such examples demonstrate how the rule levels the playing field for newer or less affluent clubs by bypassing cap constraints. On the downside, the rule has facilitated the formation of "superteams" in wealthier markets, potentially undermining parity. The LA Galaxy, leveraging multiple DPs like David Beckham, Robbie Keane, and later Riqui Puig, captured five MLS Cups (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), with post-2007 titles directly tied to DP acquisitions that bolstered their dominance in the Western Conference. Academic analysis shows that teams employing more DPs tend to outperform others, exacerbating competitive imbalances as high-revenue clubs accumulate talent. Critics argue that the DP Rule favors owners with greater financial resources, allowing them to dominate outcomes and widen gaps between top and bottom performers. Lionel Messi's 2023 arrival at Inter Miami CF as a DP exemplifies this, transforming the league's worst team into Supporters' Shield winners with a record 74 points, while highlighting how individual stars can skew results in favor of well-funded franchises. To counter such disparities, MLS employs revenue sharing from central sources like media rights, distributing funds equally among clubs, and requires a $150,000 payment to the league when adding a third DP, which is then split among teams with fewer slots. In 2025, expansions to the U22 Initiative further promote balance by enabling up to three under-22 signings at reduced budget charges, encouraging investment in young talent across all clubs and effectively raising the salary floor without inflating senior DP disparities.Attracting Global Talent and Marketing
The Designated Player Rule has been instrumental in attracting international talent to Major League Soccer, enabling clubs to sign high-profile players from abroad without salary cap constraints. Over 70% of Designated Players have historically been international signings, fostering a diverse roster that includes stars from more than 70 countries.[36][37] Notable examples include Zlatan Ibrahimović's 2018 arrival with the LA Galaxy, which elevated the league's global visibility through his prolific scoring and charismatic presence, and Lionel Messi's 2023 move to Inter Miami, which immediately boosted international interest and fan engagement.[38][39][40] This influx of global stars has enhanced MLS's marketing appeal and commercial viability. David Beckham's 2007 signing as the rule's inaugural Designated Player sparked a surge in attendance, with league averages rising nearly 40% in the years following his arrival as fans flocked to see marquee talent.[41] In 2025, the presence of Designated Players like Messi and Son Heung-min drove a 29% increase in weekly live match viewership to 3.7 million, while jersey sales led by these stars underscored the rule's role in expanding the league's audience both domestically and abroad.[42][43] Financially, the rule has supported lucrative Designated Player contracts, often averaging several million dollars per year for top international talents, contributing to broader league revenue growth from merchandise, sponsorships, and media rights since its 2007 inception.[44][45] The rule also promotes global partnerships, as seen in transfers like Riqui Puig's move from FC Barcelona to the LA Galaxy in 2022, and 2025 updates permitting unlimited intra-league cash trades have streamlined player acquisitions, indirectly facilitating smoother international negotiations by providing clubs with greater financial flexibility.[46][1][47] Despite these benefits, challenges persist in talent retention and roster sustainability. The average age of Designated Players hovers around 28, with many signings skewed toward established veterans seeking a final career chapter, which can limit long-term development.[48][49] Retention issues arise post-Designated Player status, as successful international players often depart for European leagues upon contract expiration or transfer, exemplified by ongoing speculation around talents like Puig despite their on-field impact.[50][51]Current Designated Players
Active DPs in 2025
As of November 2025, Major League Soccer maintains approximately 60 active Designated Players across its 30 clubs, excluding those with expired contracts. These players represent high-profile signings designed to elevate team competitiveness, with Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF leading as the highest-paid at $20.45 million in guaranteed compensation for the year.[52] Clubs utilize their up to three DP slots strategically, often combining international stars with domestic talent. For instance, Inter Miami CF employs three DPs in Lionel Messi (forward, Argentina), Sergio Busquets (midfielder, Spain), and Jordi Alba (defender, Spain), all former Barcelona teammates who joined via free transfers in 2023 but remain active under multi-year deals. The LA Galaxy features Riqui Puig (midfielder, Spain) and Gabriel Pec (forward, Brazil) as DPs, with Puig acquired through a 2022 trade involving allocation money and Pec signed directly from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in 2024. Atlanta United holds Miguel Almirón (midfielder, Paraguay), Emmanuel Latte Lath (forward, France), and Alexey Miranchuk (midfielder, Russia) as its DPs, blending experience from European leagues. Austin FC's DPs include Osman Bukari (forward, Ghana) and Myrto Uzuni (forward, Albania), signed to bolster attacking options.[53][54] Notable 2025 acquisitions highlight the rule's role in expansion and roster refreshes. San Diego FC, in its inaugural season, signed Mexican international Hirving "Chucky" Lozano (winger) as its first DP in June 2024, with him joining the active roster in January 2025 after a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven; he ranks among the league's top earners. Other clubs have leveraged trades involving allocation money to acquire or adjust DP slots, such as buy-downs using General Allocation Money (GAM) to reduce budget charges for incoming players. The roster also incorporates Young Designated Players (YDPs) under the variant rule for those aged 23 or younger, allowing lower salary cap hits—though specific high-profile cases like potential pursuits of talents such as Enzo Fernández remain unconfirmed in MLS transfers this year.[55][56][30] Key trends among active DPs include a strong South American contingent, comprising about 40% of the total, reflecting the league's emphasis on attracting talent from regions like Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Average annual compensation hovers around $3.2 million, underscoring the financial commitment beyond the salary cap. These players, active through the end of the 2025 regular season and playoffs, continue to drive global interest in MLS.[48][45]Demographic and Trend Analysis
The demographic profile of active Designated Players (DPs) in Major League Soccer as of late 2025 reveals a continued emphasis on international talent, with Argentina among the top nationalities represented, followed by others including Brazil, England, and France.[53] The average age among the active DPs indicates a balance between experienced stars and emerging talents, while a significant portion qualify as Young Designated Players (YDPs) under 24 years old, whose lower salary budget charges encourage youth investment.[30] Trends in DP signings since 2020 show a marked rise in South American acquisitions, driven by the league's growing appeal in markets like Argentina and Brazil amid post-pandemic economic shifts and enhanced transfer partnerships.[57] Conversions from the U22 Initiative to full DP slots have increased in 2025, allowing clubs to retain high-potential young players without exceeding allocation limits, as evidenced by midseason transitions for prospects at various teams.[2] Usage patterns demonstrate widespread adoption, with most of the 30 MLS teams employing at least two DPs, highlighting efforts to maintain competitive parity across conferences.[53] In 2025, notable shifts include increased midseason YDP signings, facilitated by relaxed Secondary Transfer Window rules that permit more flexible acquisitions without immediate budget penalties.[30] Cash trades have enhanced DP mobility, enabling teams to swap allocation money for players midseason, as seen in deals involving South American talents relocating between conferences. Looking ahead, projections point to an increasing focus on under-25 talent under evolving U22 rules, which provide additional General Allocation Money (GAM) incentives for retaining academy products or international youth.[2]Historical Records
Designated Players by Nationality
Since the introduction of the Designated Player Rule in 2007, Major League Soccer has signed over 300 Designated Players from more than 50 different countries through the 2025 season.[58] These signings reflect the league's strategy to blend global stars with domestic development, drawing talent from a diverse range of nationalities while navigating salary cap constraints.[1] Official MLS records form the basis for this tally, which excludes complexities arising from players' dual citizenship or changes in national team eligibility.[59] The distribution of Designated Players by nationality highlights a concentration among a few leading countries, with South American and North American origins dominating recent years. Argentina leads with the highest number, followed by the United States and Brazil, underscoring the rule's role in attracting high-profile international talent while supporting homegrown initiatives.[60] (Numbers as of 2024)| Nationality | Number of Designated Players |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 57 |
| United States | 29 |
| Brazil | 21 |
| Sweden | 17 |
| England | 12 |