NEW YORK (Tuesday, November 14, 2017) – As the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) continue to build a roster for their inaugural campaign in 2018, Major League Soccer today announced that the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 2 p.m. ET. In addition, MLS released the full offseason calendar, outlining the important events and dates for teams beginning to make roster preparations for the 2018 MLS season.
This marks the 11th MLS Expansion Draft in the league’s history and serves as the first significant league-wide event for LAFC to add additional players around Mexican star forward Carlos Vela.
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 MLS Expansion Draft is just the starting point for offseason roster activity in preparation for 2018. The additional offseason drafts and important player acquisition dates are detailed below.
| 2017 Offseason Calendar | |
|---|---|
| November 27 1:00 PM ET Monday | Option Exercise Deadline Clubs no longer competing in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs 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 teams. |
| December 1 1:00 PM ET Friday | 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. |
| December 10 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET Sunday | 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. |
| December 10 Noon ET Sunday | 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. |
| December 10 1:00 PM ET Sunday | Blackout Period begins Blackout Period begins whereby clubs may no longer sign and/or trade their own draft-eligible players until the conclusion of the Expansion Draft. |
| December 12 2:00 PM ET Tuesday | Expansion Draft While Generation adidas and off-budget Homegrown Players are automatically exempt, current MLS clubs may protect up to 11 players from selection in the Expansion Draft. LAFC may select up to five players from the eligible MLS player pool. Only a single player can be drafted from any one club. |
| December 12 3:00 PM ET Tuesday | Free Agency Begins Out-of-contract players and those who had their contract option declined who were at least 28 years old during the 2017 season and have at least eight years of MLS service are eligible for Free Agency. |
| December 13 3:30 PM ET Wednesday | 2017 MLS Waiver Draft Consisting of players who have been waived by clubs and do not meet minimum years of service requirement for Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency; the draft is conducted in reverse order of 2017 season finish, taking into account postseason performance, with expansion LAFC picking 23rd. |
| December 15 3:00 PM ET Friday | 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. |
| December 21 2:00 PM ET Thursday | 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. |
