NEW YORK, NY. (November 16, 2017) – As Los Angeles FC prepares for their inaugural season, MLS announced the details of the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft as well as a number of other off-season events. Take a look.
2017 MLS Expansion Draft Schedule and Details Announced
The 2017 MLS Expansion Draft will take place on December 12th at 2 PM EST. The league released details that are as follows:
“While Generation adidas players and off-budget Homegrown Players are exempt from selection, current MLS clubs may protect 11 players prior to the Expansion Draft. LAFC may select five players from the eligible player pool. Importantly, only a single player can be drafted from any one club.
After all 22 current MLS clubs submit their protected player list, the complete list of players eligible for selection in the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft will be released on Dec. 10 by 5:30 p.m. ET.”
The following off-season schedule has been announced, per Major League Soccer:
December 1st 1:00 PM EST
Option Exercise Deadline for Non-MLS Cup Participants: Non-MLS Cup participants must notify the League Office in writing of (1) players whose options they are exercising and/or (2) players who are receiving bona fide offers, announced by the clubs. All roster decisions will be publicized by the individual clubs.
December 10th 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Half Day Trade Window: Following a three-month roster freeze, MLS clubs may begin making adjustments to their rosters. This is a four-hour window in which clubs may sign and trade players. All roster moves will be publicized by the individual clubs.
December 10th 12:00 PM EST
Option Exercise Deadline for MLS Cup Participants: Clubs that compete in MLS Cup must notify the League Office in writing of (1) players whose options they are exercising and/or (2) players who are receiving bona fide offers. All roster decisions will be publicized by the individual clubs.
December 10th 1:00 PM EST
Blackout Period begins: Blackout Period begins whereby clubs may no longer sign and/or trade their own draft-eligible players until conclusion of Expansion Draft.
December 12th 2:00 PM EST
2017 MLS Expansion Draft: See the full expansion draft rules here.
December 12th 3:00 PM EST
Free Agency Begins: Out of Contract and Option Decline players that were at least 28 years old during the 2017 season and have at least eight years of MLS service are eligible for Free Agency. See the rules for free agency here. MLS Communications will make the complete list of Free Agents available on Dec. 10.
December 15th 3:00 PM EST
2017 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 1: The Re-Entry Draft (both stages) is conducted in reverse order of 2017 season finish, taking into account postseason performance, with expansion club LAFC selecting last.
The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Draft – Stage 1 will be released by MLS Communications at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 14.
Eligible players include:
Option Decline Players: Players not eligible for Free Agency who will be at least 23 years old in 2017 with a minimum of three years of MLS experience
Out of Contract Players: Players not eligible for Free Agency
who have not received a Bona Fide Offer and who are at least 25 years old with a minimum of four years of MLS experience. or are at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight years of MLS experience.
December 21st 2:00 PM EST
2017 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 2: Stage 2 includes MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1 draft, but not necessarily all Stage 1 players as they can re-sign with their previous club between stages; teams selecting in this stage have the right to negotiate with the player for a new contract; the format of the draft is conducted in the same manner as Stage 1.
The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Draft – Stage 2 will be released by MLS Communications at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 20.
