MLS announced Thursday roster rules changes that go into effect immediately and shouldn’t affect Atlanta United this season.
The first change will be to uncouple the number of Designated Players from Under-22 Initiative signings. Before the change, teams that had one vacant DP slot could sign as many as three U22s. If all three DP slots were used, there was a formula for signing as many as three U22s.
Teams can now sign three DPs, players whose transfer fee and salary exceeds the annual maximum salary budget charge of $683,750, and three U22s, players who are under the age of 22 and whose transfer fees don’t count against the salary cap. Or teams can sign two DPs and four U22s. Should a team go with the 2 DP/4 U22 model, they will receive as much as $2 million in general allocation money (GAM) that can be sprinkled throughout the roster. Teams must declare which model they are choosing before each season. This season, clubs must declare by Aug. 14. Atlanta United has one DP, Stian Gregersen, but is pursuing two more to replace Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, who recently were sold. It has one U22, Edwin Mosquera, with two more, Franco Ibarra and Santiago Sosa, on loan and unlikely to return.
The second change allows teams that sell non-DPs to be able to convert as much as $3 million in revenues received into GAM. Previously, clubs could convert as much as $1,215,506. This could be important for Atlanta United because it is on the verge of selling Caleb Wiley to Chelsea for $11 million. The club could convert some of that fee into GAM and spread that money throughout the roster, or use it to buy down a targeted allocation money-level DP. The club can’t buy down Gregersen this season. Bartosz Slisz will replace Gregersen as a TAM-level DP next season. The club could use some of the money from the Wiley sale to buy down his contract and open a DP slot.
One proposed rules change that wasn’t approved was each club getting two contract buyouts instead of the existing one.
In a statement from the league, MLS says the rules changes have been considered since early 2023 and were researched by the league’s sporting and competition committee, and insights from 25,000 soccer fans who were researched. The league said it is considering more changes.
“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,” Todd Durbin, MLS Executive Vice President Player Strategy and Relations, said in a statement from the league. “We have a unique opportunity with the World Cup coming in two years. These modifications, along with others being discussed for potential implementation in 2025 and beyond, will elevate our league and increase fan engagement around the world.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 2
May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0
May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1
May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in U.S. Open Cup
May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0
May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1
June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2
June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2
June 19 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1
June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1
July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 6 Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2
July 9 vs. Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1
July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0
July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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