For many leagues around the world, it’s relatively simple to understand how teams acquire players, but that doesn’t quite apply to MLS.
While there are more details to every transaction, the global soccer market often operates on the principle that any club can offer a certain amount of money and a contract term to a player or another club.
In MLS, though, there are several intricacies to acquiring talent, which can be challenging for fans to understand. Among the world of General Allocation Money, Targeted Allocation Money, Designated Players, Allocation Orders, and Generation Adidas, there are Discovery Lists, which have quickly become a key part of MLS roster builds.
Let’s dive into that one.
What are MLS Discovery Lists?
A Discovery List allows an MLS club to obtain the rights to a player should he want to join the league. Clubs first have to add the player to their list and then confirm it with the league office to ensure he is not on other clubs’ lists.
A club can have up to seven players on their list at one time, and they can be added or removed regardless of transfer window status.
While any player who cannot be added to an MLS roster through another roster construction pathway is eligible for Discovery List status, it is usually reserved for foreign stars, young or old, whom a club wants to add should the opportunity arise.
For example, Sporting Kansas City had Cristiano Ronaldo on their list of discoveries during his final days in Europe. When there was slight interest in bringing him to MLS, SKC had the first rights to negotiate with him.
Additionally, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly on Inter Miami CF’s Discovery List, meaning the South Florida club has the first opportunity to bring him to the league.
