MLS Allocation Order and Process

Last update: June 7, 2022

The Allocation Process is the mechanism used to determine which club has first priority to acquire a player listed on the Allocation Ranking List. This list will consist of (i) select U.S. Men's National Team players, (ii) select youth U.S. National Team players, and/or (iii) former MLS players returning to MLS after joining a non-MLS club for an outgoing transfer fee of $500,000 or more. Generally, the League will update the Allocation Ranking List once a year (typically after the conclusion of the MLS Regular Season), but may make additional updates in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, adding players transferred out of MLS and top U.S. youth national team players.

Allocation Ranking Order

1. Cincinnati
2. Dallas
3. Chicago
4. San Jose
5. Charlotte
6. LAFC
7. Montréal
8. Columbus
9. Houston
10. LA
11. Toronto
12. Vancouver
13. Minnesota
14. Orlando
15. Atlanta
16. Seattle
17. Nashville
18. Kansas City
19. Colorado
20. New England
21. Austin
22. Philadelphia
23. Portland
24. New York City
25. Miami
26. New York Red Bulls
27. D.C. United
28. Real Salt Lake

2022 Allocation Ranking List

Last update: June 7, 2022

The Allocation Ranking List is comprised of players in the following categories:

• Select U.S. Men’s National Team players.
• Select elite U.S. Youth National Team players.
• Players transferred outside of MLS garnering a transfer fee of at least $500,000 (USD).

The players who will be included on the Allocation Ranking List will be determined by Major League Soccer’s player personnel department and club technical staffs and will be updated once each year, during the time window between the end of the MLS regular season and MLS Cup. The Allocation Ranking List will only be updated during the season if an elite U.S. youth national team player turns 18 or graduates from the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, FL and is deemed eligible for the list. In addition, the Allocation Ranking List will be updated when a player is transferred out of MLS for more than $500,000.

Allocation Ranking List Players:

Aaronson, Brenden - Transfer

Adams, Tyler - Transfer

Almiron, Miguel - Transfer

Anangono, Juan - Transfer

Aranguiz, Pablo - Transfer

Atuesta, Eduard - Transfer

Bello, George - Transfer

Buchanan, Tajon - Transfer

Busio, Gianluca - Transfer

Cannon, Reggie - Transfer

Carmona, Carlos - Transfer

Davies, Alphonso - Transfer

Dike, Daryl - Transfer

Dos Santos, Thiago - Transfer

Elis, Alberth - Transfer

Figal, Jorge Nicolas - Transfer

Gaber, Omar - Transfer

Giovinco, Sebastian - Transfer

Gruezo, Carlos - Transfer

Harrison, Jack - Transfer

Horta, Andre - Transfer

Hwang, lnBeom - Transfer

Ibarra, Romario - Transfer

Larin, Cyle - Transfer

Laryea, Richie - Transfer

Manotas, Mauro - Transfer

Martinez, Gonzalo "Pity" - Transfer

Martins, Obafemi - Transfer

McGree, Riley - Transfer

McKenzie, Mark - Transfer

Miazga, Matt - Transfer

Moon-Hwan, Kim - Transfer

Murillo, Michael - Transfer

Nedyalkov, Anton - Transfer

Ondrasek, Zdenek - Transfer

Paredes, Kevin - Transfer

Pepi, Ricardo - Transfer

Poku, Kwadwo - Transfer

Pulisic, Christian - Senior USMNT

Ream, Tim - Transfer

Reynolds, Bryan - Transfer

Richards, Chris - Transfer

Rivero, Octavio - Transfer

Sanvezzo, Camilo - Transfer

Sargent, Josh - Senior USMNT

Scally, Joe - Transfer

Silva, Alejandro - Transfer

Soteldo, Yeferson - Transfer

Steffen, Zack - Transfer

Taider, Saphir - Transfer

Tessmann, Tanner - Transfer

Villalba, Hector - Transfer

Yotun, Yoshimar - Transfer

2022 Allocation Ranking Order Transactions

• Jefferson Savarino: Real Salt Lake acquire forward from Brazil's Atletico Mineiro on May 4, move up Allocation Order via trades with Austin FC and FC Cincinnati
• Chris Durkin: D.C. United acquire midfielder from Houston Dynamo FC after Allocation Order selection on March 24
• Caden Clark: New York Red Bulls acquire midfielder after Allocation Order trades with FC Cincinnati and Toronto FC on Feb. 9
• DeAndre Yedlin: Inter Miami CF sign defender via Allocation Order's top spot on Feb. 2
• Christian Makoun: Charlotte FC acquire defender in trade with Inter Miami CF for Allocation Order spot on Jan. 10