2022 MLS NEXT PRO ROSTER GUIDELINES
MLS NEXT Pro has announced its Roster Guidelines for the inaugural 2022 season, which is scheduled to begin in late March 2022.
2022 MLS NEXT PRO ROSTER COMPOSITION
An MLS NEXT Pro club's active roster is comprised of up to 35 players, all of whom are eligible for selection to each official match during the MLS NEXT Pro Season.
24 roster slots (1-24) may be filled with professional players. These roster slots include International and Domestic players, and players on loan.
11 roster slots (25-35) may be filled with amateur players. There shall be a maximum of five (5) MLS NEXT youth academy players per team on the field during an official match.
A player is eligible to participate as an amateur (academy) player, provided that:
- he is under the age of 21 before the official start of the season,
- he has not competed in any college or university soccer programs,
- he has never been signed or recognized as a professional player as defined by the NCAA or FIFA, and
- he currently plays, or previously played, for the Club's MLS NEXT academy, or for a team which has a documented affiliation with the Club.
ROSTER FLEXIBILITY
There is no salary cap in MLS NEXT Pro and there are no salary limits on player compensation (i.e., there is not a minimum salary or maximum salary). Additionally, there are no age limits for players, and clubs will be able to sign players directly to an MLS NEXT Pro agreement, as described above.
2022 ROSTER COMPLIANCE, ROSTER FREEZE, TRANSFER WINDOW DATES AND POST-SEASON TRAINING
ROSTER COMPLIANCE DATE
All Clubs must be in compliance with the MLS NEXT Pro Roster Guidelines by 8 p.m. ET on March 18, 2022.
ROSTER FREEZE
No changes may be made to a Club's Roster from the Roster Freeze Date through the day after the final MLS NEXT Pro game. The Roster Freeze Date will be set forth in the Competition Calendar.
TRANSFER WINDOW DATES
- Primary Transfer Window: February 10, 2022 – May 4, 2022
- Secondary Transfer Window: July 7, 2022 – August 4, 2022
PLAYER CONTRACTS
All players will execute a Contract with the MLS NEXT Pro Club, and Clubs will provide/execute all supplemental documents as applicable to the League Office.
CONTRACT OPTIONS
Each club will determine if a contract includes Option Years.
PLAYER CATEGORIES
DOMESTIC PLAYERS
U.S.-based Clubs: For U.S. Clubs, a domestic player is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (i.e., green card holder), or the holder of a certain other special status (for example, has been granted refugee or asylum status). For players who obtain U.S. permanent residency while employed by a MLS NEXT Pro Club, the player will be considered a domestic player if such residency is granted by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2022 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 6, 2022) and by the Roster Compliance Date in 2023 and onward. There is no limit as to the number of U.S. Domestic players on a U.S. Club's Roster.
Canada-based Clubs: For Canadian Clubs, a domestic player is either a Canadian citizen, a Canadian permanent resident, or the holder of certain other special status (for example, has been granted refugee or asylum status) or a U.S. Domestic player. For players who obtain U.S. or Canadian permanent residency while employed by a MLS NEXT Pro Club, the Player will be considered a domestic player for a Canadian Club if such residency is granted, by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2022 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 6, 2022) and by the Roster Compliance Date in 2023 and onward. There is no limit as to the number of U.S. Domestic players or Canadian Domestic players on a Canadian Club's Roster.
INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
Each U.S. MLS NEXT Pro Club has seven (7) roster slots for international players. Any player who does not qualify as a U.S. Domestic player for a U.S. Club shall be considered an International player and must occupy an International Roster Slot on such U.S. Club's Roster for the remainder of the year. However, if an international player receives a U.S. green card by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2022 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 6, 2022), he shall not occupy an International Roster Slot; however, if an international player receives a green card on July 7, 2022, he shall occupy an International Roster Slot for the remainder of 2022.
Each Canadian MLS NEXT Pro Club has seven (7) roster slots for international players. Any player who does not qualify as a U.S. Domestic player or a Canadian Domestic player shall be considered an International player and must occupy an International Roster Slot on a Canadian Club's Roster. Therefore, for Roster purposes, a U.S. Domestic player on a Canadian Club shall be considered a Canadian Domestic player and will not occupy an International Roster Slot. If an international player is granted Canadian permanent residency by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2022 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 6, 2022), he shall not occupy an International Roster Slot; however, if an international player is granted Canadian permanent residency on July 7, 2022, he shall occupy an International Roster Slot for the remainder of 2022.
TRADING INTERNATIONAL ROSTER SLOTS
International Roster Slots may be traded, provided that it is for a specified period of time, and it is approved by the League Office.
- International Roster Slots may be traded, although the roster slot(s) must return/expire at the end of a NEXT Pro season.
- With trades, there is no limit to the number of International Roster Slots an MLS NEXT Pro Club may have in a single season.
INJURED LIST
If a player suffers an injury that will prohibit the player from participating in at least five (5) MLS NEXT Pro games, a Club can request to place the injured player on the Injured List by submitting the online Injured List/Season Ending Injury Request via MLS NEXT Pro Connect and may replace that player on its roster with a replacement player. Any player placed on the Injured List will be unavailable for a minimum of 5 MLS NEXT Pro games and may not participate in tournaments and exhibitions with his MLS NEXT Pro Club during that period (including Concacaf Champions League, Canadian Championship and U.S. Open Cup.
MATCHDAY ROSTER DEADLINES
A player must be added to a Club's Roster by 8 p.m. ET on the last business day prior to an MLS NEXT Pro Game in order to be listed on an Official Match Roster for the MLS NEXT Pro game. For example, if an MLS NEXT Pro Game is occurring on a Sunday, the Roster Deadline is 8 p.m. ET on the Friday before the game.
