What is the primary purpose of the Designated Player Rule in Major League Soccer?

The Designated Player Rule, also known as the 'Beckham Rule,' allows Major League Soccer (MLS) franchises to sign up to three players whose salaries or transfer fees would typically exceed the team's salary cap. This mechanism enables teams to attract star players from the international football market, enhancing the league's competitiveness and appeal.

From what year was the Designated Player Rule adopted in Major League Soccer?

The Designated Player Rule was adopted ahead of the 2007 Major League Soccer season.

What is the informal nickname given to the Designated Player Rule, and why?

The rule is informally nicknamed the 'Beckham Rule' because it was introduced in anticipation of MLS teams signing lucrative deals with internationally recognized players, specifically after David Beckham began negotiations to join the league. This highlights the rule's intent to bring high-profile talent to MLS.

Who was the first player signed under the Designated Player Rule, and what were the terms of his initial contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy?

David Beckham was the first player signed under the Designated Player Rule. He signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, which included a guaranteed annual salary of $6.5 million directly from MLS and the Galaxy, and was worth up to $250 million over five years in total compensation.

Besides the Designated Player Rule, what is the other mechanism allowing MLS teams to exceed their salary cap?

The other mechanism by which Major League Soccer teams may exceed their salary cap, in addition to the Designated Player Rule, is through the use of allocation money. Allocation money is a resource provided to clubs that can be used to 'buy down' a player's salary budget charge or sign new players.

How many Designated Players had there been in Major League Soccer history as of December 2019?

As of December 2019, there had been 209 Designated Players in Major League Soccer history.

What were the estimated team salary caps in Major League Soccer for the years 2006, 2007, and 2008?

The estimated team salary cap in Major League Soccer was around US$1.9 million in 2006, increased to $2.1 million in 2007, and was further raised to $2.3 million for the 2008 season.

What was the salary cap for the 2010 season, and how was it set to change in subsequent years, according to the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement?

As part of the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Major League Soccer salary cap for 2010 was $2.55 million. It was set to automatically increase by five percent each year until the agreement expired at the end of the 2014 season.

Under the 2007 Designated Player Rule, what amount of a Designated Player's salary was charged to the salary cap and paid by the league, and how did this change for the 2009 season?

Under the 2007 rule, $400,000 of a Designated Player's salary was charged to the salary cap and paid by the league, with the team's operator covering any remaining salary. This amount was increased to $415,000 for the 2009 season.

Which players had salaries exceeding $400,000 prior to the 2007 season, and how were they initially treated under the new rule?

Prior to the 2007 season, Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz, and Eddie Johnson had salaries exceeding $400,000. These players were 'grandfathered in' for the 2007 season, meaning they were exempt from being immediately classified as Designated Players, and this exemption was extended after the season for future review.

What happened to Eddie Johnson and Carlos Ruiz's status after the 2007 season regarding the Designated Player rule?

Prior to the 2008 season, Eddie Johnson moved to Fulham of the Premier League. Following Dwayne De Rosario's signing in January 2009, Carlos Ruiz was released by his club and left MLS to play for Olimpia Asunción. This meant they no longer needed to be considered under the Designated Player rule in MLS.

Who was the sole player whose 2009 salary remained grandfathered under the exemption provision of the Designated Player Rule?

Landon Donovan was the lone player whose 2009 salary remained grandfathered under the exemption provision of the Designated Player Rule, meaning his high salary did not count fully against the team's cap.

Were there other players whose guaranteed salaries exceeded the Designated Player amount but had a lower salary cap expense due to the allocation rule?

Yes, several players had guaranteed salaries exceeding the Designated Player amount, but their salary cap expense was actually lower due to the allocation rule. These players included Shalrie Joseph ($450,000), Christian Gomez ($430,000), Dwayne De Rosario ($425,750), and Taylor Twellman ($420,000).

How many Designated Player spots did each team initially have under the 2007 rule, and what was the maximum number allowed?

Each team initially had one Designated Player spot under the 2007 rule, and they could trade this spot to another team, allowing a maximum of two Designated Players per team.

What was the salary cap charge for a team's second Designated Player in 2007 and how did it change in 2009?

Only $325,000 of a team's second Designated Player's salary counted against the salary cap in 2007, and this amount was increased to $335,000 in 2009.

What significant change was made to the Designated Player Rule regarding its expiration date in 2010?

In 2010, a significant change was made to the Designated Player Rule: it no longer had an expiration date, making it a permanent fixture in Major League Soccer's roster regulations.

Following the 2010 changes, what was the standard salary cap charge for a Designated Player, and how was it adjusted for mid-season signings?

After the 2010 changes, $335,000 of a Designated Player's salary was charged to the salary cap and paid by the league. For Designated Players joining during the MLS summer transfer window (mid-season), this amount was halved to $167,500.

How could the salary cap value of Designated Players be further reduced after the 2010 rule changes?

The salary cap value of Designated Players could be further reduced using allocation money. Additionally, teams whose Designated Players transferred abroad in the middle of a season could recoup part of their salary cap value.

What was the status of Landon Donovan's contract after the 2010 changes to the Designated Player Rule?

After the 2010 changes, Landon Donovan was no longer grandfathered into the rule and had to be considered a Designated Player, meaning his full salary would now count against the team's cap, subject to the DP rules.

How many Designated Player spots were teams allowed after the 2010 changes, and what was the new policy regarding trading these spots?

After the 2010 changes, each team was allowed two Designated Player spots, and they could no longer trade these spots. This standardized the number of DP slots across the league.

What compensation did the New York Red Bulls receive due to the nullification of their 2007 trade for an additional Designated Player spot?

The New York Red Bulls received $70,000 in allocation money in return for the nullification of their 2007 trade with Chivas USA for an additional Designated Player spot. This ensured both teams had two DP spots for the 2010 season.

What was the 'luxury tax' for signing a third Designated Player after the 2010 changes, and how was this money distributed?

Teams could pay a $250,000 'luxury tax' for the right to sign a third Designated Player. This $250,000 would then be distributed equally to all MLS teams that had not signed a third Designated Player, in the form of allocation money.

What was the main concern that prompted the 2012 changes to the Designated Player Rule, particularly regarding younger players?

The main concern that prompted the 2012 changes was clubs expressing worry about signing young international players without guarantees that they would develop into stars. This led to adjustments in how younger Designated Players impacted the salary budget.

What were the specific salary budget charges for Designated Players aged 21-23 and those 20 years old or younger, according to the 2012 rule changes?

Under the 2012 rule changes, Designated Players aged 21-23 counted as $200,000 against the club's salary budget, while those 20 years old or younger counted as $150,000 against the budget.

Could the budget charge for young Designated Players (23 years old and younger) be lowered with allocation funds after the 2012 changes?

No, the budget charge for the mid-season signing of a young Designated Player (23 years old and younger) was $150,000, and this amount could not be lowered with allocation funds.

Did clubs need to purchase a third DP roster slot to accommodate Designated Players who were 23 years old and younger after the 2012 changes?

No, clubs were not required to buy the third DP roster slot to accommodate Designated Players who were 23 years old and younger, making it easier to sign promising young talent.

How was a player's age determined for the purpose of the Designated Player Rule under the 2012 changes?

A player's age for the Designated Player Rule was determined by their year of birth, not their specific date of birth.

How did the maximum budget charge for Designated Players over age 23 evolve from 2013 to 2017?

The maximum budget charge for Designated Players over age 23 increased progressively: it was $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 mid-season signings remained at one-half of the full-season cap charge.

What do the 'Years as DP' in the club history tables signify?

The 'Years as DP' in the club history tables indicate the seasons during which a player was actively assigned as a Designated Player for that specific club, not necessarily their entire tenure in MLS or their first year in the league.

What is the meaning of a player's name being listed in bold in the club history tables?

Players whose names are listed in bold in the club history tables are currently signed to a Designated Player contract by their respective club, as of the provided data.

Can a player's salary be reduced against the salary cap even if it's at a Designated Player level?

Yes, a player's salary may be at a Designated Player level, but clubs can opt to reduce their salary against the salary cap using General Allocation Money or Targeted Allocation Money, effectively making them not count as a DP for cap purposes.

What is included and excluded in the player salaries listed in the tables?

Player salaries in the tables include compensation from their Major League Soccer contract. They do not include any bonuses or compensation received from contracts with individual teams or their affiliates.

According to the 'Current Designated Players' table, what is Lionel Messi's guaranteed compensation for 2025?

According to the 'Current Designated Players' table, Lionel Messi's guaranteed compensation for 2025 is $20,446,667, making him one of the highest-paid players.

Which country has contributed the highest number of Designated Players to Major League Soccer, and how many?

Argentina has contributed the highest number of Designated Players to Major League Soccer, with 57 players listed.

How many Designated Players have come from the United States, according to the provided data?

The United States has contributed 29 Designated Players to Major League Soccer, making it the second-highest country on the list.

How many Designated Players have originated from Brazil, based on the provided list?

Brazil has contributed 21 Designated Players to Major League Soccer.

Which player was a Designated Player for Chicago Fire FC from 2007-2009?

Cuauhtémoc Blanco was a Designated Player for Chicago Fire FC from 2007-2009, having joined from Club América.

Who was the first Designated Player for FC Cincinnati, and what year did he sign?

Fanendo Adi was the first Designated Player for FC Cincinnati, signing in 2019 after previously playing for Portland Timbers.

Who was the first Designated Player for FC Dallas, and what year did he sign?

Denílson was the first Designated Player for FC Dallas, signing in 2007 from Al-Nassr.

Who was a notable Designated Player for D.C. United from 2018-2019, joining from Everton F.C.?

Wayne Rooney was a notable Designated Player for D.C. United from 2018-2019, having joined from Everton F.C.

Who was the first Designated Player for LA Galaxy, and what years was he a DP for the club?

David Beckham was the first Designated Player for LA Galaxy, and he was a DP for the club from 2007 to 2012.

Who is a current Designated Player for Los Angeles FC, having signed in 2022?

Denis Bouanga is a current Designated Player for Los Angeles FC, having signed in 2022 from AS Saint-Étienne.

Who is a current Designated Player for Nashville SC, having signed in 2020?

Hany Mukhtar is a current Designated Player for Nashville SC, having signed in 2020 from Brøndby IF.

Who is a current Designated Player for New England Revolution, having signed in 2019?

Carles Gil is a current Designated Player for New England Revolution, having signed in 2019 from Deportivo La Coruña.

Who was the first Designated Player for New York City FC, and what years was he a DP?

David Villa was the first Designated Player for New York City FC, and he was a DP for the club from 2014 to 2018.

Who was a notable Designated Player for New York Red Bulls from 2010-2014, joining from Barcelona?

Thierry Henry was a notable Designated Player for New York Red Bulls from 2010-2014, having joined from Barcelona.

Who was the first Designated Player for Orlando City SC, and what years was he a DP?

Kaká was the first Designated Player for Orlando City SC, and he was a DP for the club from 2014 to 2017.

Who is a current Designated Player for Philadelphia Union, having signed in 2022?

Mikael Uhre is a current Designated Player for Philadelphia Union, having signed in 2022 from Brøndby IF.

Who was a notable Designated Player for Portland Timbers from 2013-2019, joining from Lanús?

Diego Valeri was a notable Designated Player for Portland Timbers from 2013-2019, having joined from Lanús.

Designated Player Rule Wiki: The Strategic Edge: Deconstructing MLS's Designated Player Rule

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Introduction

Elevating MLS Competitiveness

The Designated Player Rule, colloquially known as the "Beckham Rule," represents a pivotal financial mechanism within Major League Soccer (MLS). Instituted prior to the 2007 MLS season, this rule empowers individual franchises to sign up to three players whose compensation (either through elevated wages or substantial transfer fees) would otherwise exceed the league's stringent salary cap. This strategic allowance was designed to enable MLS teams to effectively compete for elite international football talent, thereby enhancing the league's overall quality and global appeal.

Navigating the Salary Cap

In the context of MLS's single-entity structure and salary cap system, the Designated Player Rule serves as one of two primary avenues for teams to exceed their allocated budget for player salaries. The other mechanism involves the strategic use of "allocation money." This dual approach provides a degree of financial flexibility while maintaining the league's commitment to competitive balance. As of December 2019, the rule has facilitated the signing of 209 Designated Players, profoundly impacting the league's player roster and market dynamics.

The Beckham Legacy

The rule's informal moniker, the "Beckham Rule," directly stems from the anticipation surrounding David Beckham's potential move to MLS. His eventual signing in 2007 with the Los Angeles Galaxy marked the inaugural application of this rule. Beckham's five-year contract, which included a guaranteed annual salary of $6.5 million, underscored the rule's intent to attract globally recognized players and elevate the league's profile on the international stage.

Historical Evolution

Early Salary Cap Context

To fully appreciate the impact of the Designated Player Rule, it is essential to understand the prevailing salary cap environment in MLS. In 2006, the team salary cap was approximately US$1.9 million. This figure saw modest increases to $2.1 million in 2007 and $2.3 million for the 2008 season. The 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement further stipulated a salary cap of $2.55 million for that year, with an automatic five percent annual increase until its expiration at the end of the 2014 season. These relatively constrained budgets highlighted the necessity of a mechanism like the DP rule to attract high-caliber talent.

The 2007 Rule Framework

The initial iteration of the Designated Player Rule, implemented in 2007, featured several key provisions:

The rule was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2009 season, necessitating renewal or lapse.
For each Designated Player, a fixed amount of their salary ($400,000 initially, increasing to $415,000 in 2009) was charged against the team's salary cap and covered by the league. Any remuneration beyond this threshold was borne by the team's operator.
A "grandfather clause" initially exempted three players (Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz, and Eddie Johnson) whose salaries already exceeded $400,000 prior to the rule's adoption. Over time, as Ruiz and Johnson departed MLS, Landon Donovan remained the sole player under this exemption for the 2009 season.
Initially, each team was allotted one Designated Player slot, with the possibility of acquiring a second slot through trade, allowing a maximum of two DPs per team. The second DP's cap charge was set at $325,000, rising to $335,000 in 2009.

2010 Amendments and Refinements

Significant modifications were introduced in 2010, solidifying the rule's long-term presence and adjusting its financial parameters:

The rule was made permanent, removing its previous expiration date.
The salary cap charge for each Designated Player was set at $335,000 (or $167,500 for players signed during the mid-season transfer window). Teams gained the ability to further reduce this cap charge using allocation money. Provisions were also added for teams to recoup part of a DP's salary cap value if the player transferred abroad mid-season.
Landon Donovan's grandfathered status was rescinded, requiring him to be classified as a Designated Player.
Each team was permanently allocated two Designated Player spots, eliminating the ability to trade these slots. The New York Red Bulls received $70,000 in allocation money as compensation for the nullification of a prior DP slot trade with Chivas USA.
A new provision allowed teams to acquire a third Designated Player slot by paying a $250,000 "luxury tax," which was then distributed equally among MLS teams that did not utilize a third DP slot, in the form of allocation money.

Current Rule Structure

Youth Designated Player Provisions (2012)

Recognizing the need to attract and develop younger international talent, MLS introduced specific adjustments to the Designated Player Rule in 2012, particularly concerning players aged 23 and younger. These changes aimed to mitigate financial risks for clubs investing in promising but unproven young players.

Designated Players over 23 years old: Carry a salary budget charge of $350,000. This charge is halved to $175,000 if the player joins the club during the mid-season transfer window.
Designated Players 21–23 years old: Count $200,000 against the club's salary budget.
Designated Players 20 years old or younger: Count $150,000 against the club's salary budget.
For young Designated Players (23 years old and younger) signed mid-season, the budget charge is fixed at $150,000 and cannot be further reduced using allocation funds.
Clubs are not required to pay the $250,000 "luxury tax" to accommodate a third DP roster slot if that slot is filled by a Designated Player 23 years old or younger.
A player's age for these provisions is determined by their year of birth, not their specific birth date.

Evolving Cap Charges

The maximum budget charge for Designated Players over the age of 23 has seen incremental increases over the years, reflecting the league's growth and financial capacity. These adjustments ensure that the rule remains relevant in a dynamic global football market.

2013: Increased to $368,750
2014: Increased to $387,500
2015: Increased to $436,250
2016: Increased to $457,500
2017: Increased to $480,625

It is important to note that the budget charge for players joining during the mid-season transfer window has consistently remained at one-half of the full-season cap charge. Conversely, the budget charges specifically for younger Designated Players (23 years old and younger) have remained unchanged since their introduction in 2012, highlighting a sustained commitment to fostering youth talent.

Current Designated Players (2025)

As of August 8, 2025, the following players are designated players in Major League Soccer, with their guaranteed compensation for the 2025 season. This list excludes any bonuses or compensation from individual team contracts or affiliates.

Year Signed as DP	Player	Nationality	Current Club	2025 Guaranteed Compensation
2017	Albert Rusnák	Slovakia	Seattle Sounders	$2,575,000
2019	Carles Gil	Spain	New England Revolution	$4,702,083
2020	Hany Mukhtar	Germany	Nashville SC	$5,311,667
2020	Darlington Nagbe	United States	Columbus Crew	$1,565,833
2020	Cristian Espinoza	Argentina	San Jose Earthquakes	$2,002,000
2021	Talles Magno†	Brazil	New York City FC	$1,065,000
2021	Ryan Gauld	Scotland	Vancouver Whitecaps	$3,675,000
2022	Mikael Uhre	Denmark	Philadelphia Union	$2,240,000
2022	Thiago Martins	Brazil	New York City FC	$2,162,000
2022	Andrés Cubas	Paraguay	Vancouver Whitecaps	$1,146,375
2022	Walker Zimmerman	United States	Nashville SC	$3,456,979
2022	Giacomo Vrioni	Albania	CF Montréal	$2,247,500
2022	Christian Benteke	Belgium	D.C. United	$4,937,500
2022	Denis Bouanga	Gabon	Los Angeles FC	$3,709,500
2023	João Klauss	Brazil	St. Louis City SC	$1,370,284
2023	Evander	Brazil	FC Cincinnati	$4,736,411
2023	Dániel Gazdag	Hungary	Columbus Crew	$2,597,643
2023	Martín Ojeda	Argentina	Orlando City	$1,032,600
2023	Riqui Puig	Spain	LA Galaxy	$5,779,688
2023	Cristian Arango	Colombia	San Jose Earthquakes	$2,216,667
2023	Rafael Navarro	Brazil	Colorado Rapids	$1,449,600
2023	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Inter Miami	$20,446,667
2023	Sergio Busquets	Spain	Inter Miami	$8,774,996
2023	Sam Surridge	England	Nashville SC	$3,182,639
2023	Diego Rossi	Uruguay	Columbus Crew	$3,426,827
2024	Tomás Chancalay	Argentina	New England Revolution	$1,060,000
2024	Emil Forsberg	Sweden	New York Red Bulls	$6,035,625
2024	Pedro de la Vega	Argentina	Seattle Sounders	$1,379,000
2024	Gabriel Pec	Brazil	LA Galaxy	$2,459,000
2024	Petar Musa	Croatia	FC Dallas	$2,680,000
2024	Hugo Cuypers	Belgium	Chicago Fire	$3,528,044
2024	Luis Muriel	Colombia	Orlando City	$4,003,333
2024	Joseph Paintsil	Ghana	LA Galaxy	$4,182,000
2024	Liel Abada	Israel	Charlotte FC	$2,548,500
2024	Ezequiel Ponce	Argentina	Houston Dynamo	$2,852,200
2024	Osman Bukari	Ghana	Austin FC	$1,500,000
2024	Marcel Hartel	Germany	St. Louis City SC	$2,183,113
2024	Kelvin Yeboah	Italy	Minnesota United	$1,477,200
2024	Aleksei Miranchuk	Russia	Atlanta United	$4,885,441
2024	Diogo Gonçalves	Portugal	Real Salt Lake	$1,797,108
2024	Joaquín Pereyra	Argentina	Minnesota United	$754,800
2025	Hirving Lozano	Mexico	San Diego FC	$7,633,333
2025	Kévin Denkey	Togo	FC Cincinnati	$3,810,000
2025	Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting	Cameroon	New York Red Bulls	$3,530,667
2025	Brandon Vázquez	United States	Austin FC	$3,551,778
2025	Jordan Morris	United States	Seattle Sounders	$2,260,000
2025	Jonathan Bamba	Ivory Coast	Chicago Fire	$5,581,806
2025	Wilfried Zaha	Ivory Coast	Charlotte FC	$2,751,667
2025	Anders Dreyer	Denmark	San Diego FC	$2,434,314
2025	Myrto Uzuni	Albania	Austin FC	$2,225,000
2025	Miguel Almirón	Paraguay	Atlanta United	$7,871,000
2025	Dejan Joveljić	Serbia	Sporting Kansas City	$3,306,250
2025	Manu García	Spain	Sporting Kansas City	$2,325,313
2025	Emmanuel Latte Lath	Ivory Coast	Atlanta United	$4,030,546
2025	Marco Pašalić	Croatia	Orlando City	$1,650,667
2025	David Da Costa	Portugal	Portland Timbers	$3,425,000
2025	Bruno Damiani	Uruguay	Philadelphia Union	$726,700
2025	Artur	Brazil	Houston Dynamo	$893,375
2025	Jordi Alba	Spain	Inter Miami	$6,000,000
2025	Ondřej Lingr	Czech Republic	Houston Dynamo	$844,043
2025	Nicolás Fernández	Argentina	New York City FC	$n/a
2025	Wessam Abou Ali	Palestine	Columbus Crew	$n/a
2025	Rwan Cruz	Brazil	Real Salt Lake	$n/a
2025	Matt Turner	United States	New England Revolution	$n/a
2025	Son Heung-min	South Korea	Los Angeles FC	$n/a
2025	Djordje Mihailovic	United States	Toronto FC	$1,775,000
2025	Kristoffer Velde	Norway	Portland Timbers	$n/a
2025	Felipe Carballo	Uruguay	Portland Timbers	$1,199,777
2025	Paxten Aaronson	United States	Colorado Rapids	$n/a
2025	Iván Jaime	Spain	CF Montréal	$n/a

Notes:
† Player on loan at another club outside MLS.
This 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.
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.

Club DP History

Below is a historical overview of Designated Players for various MLS clubs, as of July 1, 2025. This list details players whose contracts were officially designated as DP contracts during their tenure with the respective club. It is important to note that some players may have had their contracts renegotiated below DP level, or their high salaries were managed using allocation money, thus not always appearing as a DP throughout their entire MLS career.

Atlanta United FC

A look into the Designated Player history of Atlanta United FC.

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

A look into the Designated Player history of Austin FC.

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
Emiliano Rigoni	São Paulo	2022–2024
Osman Bukari	Red Star Belgrade	2024–
Brandon Vázquez	Monterrey	2025–
Myrto Uzuni	Granada	2025–

Chicago Fire FC

A look into the Designated Player history of Chicago Fire FC.

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–

Charlotte FC

A look into the Designated Player history of Charlotte FC.

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–

Chivas USA (Defunct)

A look into the Designated Player history of the defunct Chivas USA.

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

A look into the Designated Player history of FC Cincinnati.

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

A look into the Designated Player history of the Colorado Rapids.

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

A look into the Designated Player history of the Columbus Crew.

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
Darlington Nagbe	Portland Timbers	2020–
Lucas Zelarayán	Tigres UANL	2020–2023
Cucho Hernández	Watford	2022–2024
Dániel Gazdag	Philadelphia Union	2023–
Diego Rossi	Fenerbahçe	2023–
Wessam Abou Ali	Al-Ahly	2025–

Notes:
Players in bold are currently signed to a DP contract by their club.
The "Years as DP" indicates seasons they were active as a DP for that club only.
Former MLS sides Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dissolved before the introduction of the Designated Player Rule.

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References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Designated Player Rule Wikipedia page

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This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not financial or professional sports management advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation regarding sports economics, player contracts, or league regulations. Always refer to the official Major League Soccer rules and regulations, and consult with qualified sports management professionals or legal experts for specific contractual or financial decisions. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

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The Strategic Edge: Deconstructing MLS's Designated Player Rule

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Introduction ℹ️

🏆 Elevating MLS Competitiveness

⚖️ Navigating the Salary Cap

📜 The Beckham Legacy

Historical Evolution 🕰️

📈 Early Salary Cap Context

🔄 The 2007 Rule Framework

🛠️ 2010 Amendments and Refinements

Current Rule Structure 📋

👶 Youth Designated Player Provisions (2012)

💰 Evolving Cap Charges

Current Designated Players (2025) 👥

Club DP History 🏟️

🦅 Atlanta United FC

🌳 Austin FC

🔥 Chicago Fire FC

👑 Charlotte FC

🌊 Chivas USA (Defunct)

🦁 FC Cincinnati

🏔️ Colorado Rapids

🟡 Columbus Crew

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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Gamer's Corner 🎮

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References

📜 References

Feedback & Support 👍

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Introduction

Elevating MLS Competitiveness

Navigating the Salary Cap

The Beckham Legacy

Historical Evolution

Early Salary Cap Context

The 2007 Rule Framework

2010 Amendments and Refinements

Current Rule Structure

Youth Designated Player Provisions (2012)

Evolving Cap Charges

Current Designated Players (2025)

Club DP History

Atlanta United FC

Austin FC

Chicago Fire FC

Charlotte FC

Chivas USA (Defunct)

FC Cincinnati

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice