Expansion Draft Overview

The expansion draft is a crucial mechanism for new teams entering Major League Soccer, designed to help them build a competitive roster by selecting players from existing teams. This year's draft allowed San Diego, the new expansion team, to choose up to five players from other MLS rosters, with the stipulation that they could only select one player from each team. The process has evolved to protect certain key players while giving expansion teams a chance to acquire centerpieces that can impact their inaugural season. Teams often protect their most valuable players, leading to some surprising unprotected names, which can create opportunities for the expansion franchise.