The MLS SuperDraft: A Dying Formality

[1]

The SuperDraft is a distinct practice of Major League Soccer (“MLS”) that has set the American league apart from the international soccer realm. Although drafts are virtually practiced by all American sports leagues, the MLS SuperDraft is significantly less impactful on roster composition when compared to “Big Four” sports, like the National Football League (“NFL”), the National Basketball Association (“NBA”), Major League Baseball (“MLB”), and the National Hockey League (“NHL”). The SuperDraft was first established in 2000, as a merger of the league’s existing two drafts: the College Draft and the Supplemental Draft.[2] The SuperDraft’s rounds, rules, and format have changed since its introduction, but the debates have continued questioning its relevance to the sport.[3] With the rising importance of the academy system, the SuperDraft’s existence may be fading into oblivion.

The SuperDraft 411: What Makes Major League Soccer Different

Selections in the SuperDraft are an invitation, not a binding contract. While other leagues’ first-round draft picks are automatically offered a contract, the MLS operates differently.[4] Drafted individuals are only required by the league to be invited to preseason training by their drafting club.[5] Players eligible for the 2025 SuperDraft include: college sophomores and above; Generation Adidas players; “any former college player who departed college with remaining eligibility since the conclusion of the college season approximately one (1) year prior to the SuperDraft”; and any individuals who are specifically made available by the MLS.[6]Additionally, no player can be drafted twice in the MLS SuperDraft.[7]

Yet, most players drafted to an MLS club do not sign with an MLS franchise. In 2019, only 36% of drafted players were selected to their club’s roster, with only three of those players playing 20 or more games in the 2020-2021 season.[8] An average of 34% of players selected across the 2020, 2021, and 2022 SuperDrafts were signed to MLS contracts.[9] With numbers like this, a three-round MLS draft serves as little more than a formality instead of a legitimate search for new players. However, there is no denying that successful MLS players have emerged out of the draft. The SuperDraft provides an opportunity for players with a successful college career to obtain a stronger opportunity to enter the league. Nevertheless, it would be unsurprising if the league made significant alterations to the current SuperDraft’s structure based on the continuing emphasis on academy player development. 

The Generation Adidas Draft Experience

Generation Adidas athletes are an elite group of individuals selected by the MLS for the potential they have demonstrated on collegiate or youth national teams. The elite status as a “Generation Adidas” athlete rewards these players with a drastically different draft experience.[10] Adidas sponsors the contracts of Generation Adidas athletes, which guarantees the player a spot on the club’s supplemental roster. This offers players more stability rather than the traditional, but noncommittal draftee invite to a club’s preseason.[11] Clubs also further value Generation Adidas players’ contracts as they do not count towards the club’s salary budget.[12] Alternatively, these players are protected as Adidas guarantees them a collegiate scholarship if they do not play professionally and desire to complete college instead.[13] It’s no surprise that in the 2022 SuperDraft, the top five picks were all Generation Adidas athletes.[14]

While Generation Adidas players are guaranteed a supplemental roster player spot during the initial guaranteed term of their contract, it should be noted that they do not necessarily have a salary advantage. If selected to the 21-24 supplemental roster by their drafting club, Generation Adidas players can make a minimum of $104, 000.[15] However, most are selected to the 25-30 supplemental roster spot, where players make the reserve salary minimum of $80,622 for their first contract.[16]  While Generation Adidas athletes have a higher potential earning for their first contract, most earn the same salary as their fellow rookies. The true value of being a Generation Adidas athlete lies in the visibility and prestige that players receive to jumpstart their professional career. Only a small number of athletes are selected to the Generation Adidas class and even fewer advance beyond a reserve spot during their rookie year. In 2024, just two athletes were named as Generation Adidas athletes, and both earned the 2024 league minimum of $71,401.[17]

The Homegrown Advantage

The rise of the MLS youth academy system, similar to European soccer leagues’ preferred development system, is the greatest opponent to the relevancy of the SuperDraft. Each MLS club has its own youth academy.[18] In support, the league has implemented “Homegrown Player” rules to further incentivize clubs to develop talent within their youth academies.[19] MLS clubs can sign an unlimited number of “Homegrown Players” without their salaries counting against the club’s salary budget.[20]

Homegrown Exclusivity rules allow MLS clubs to develop players without interference from other MLS clubs.[21]  This exclusivity is limited to 45 academy players per club amongst their U-15, U-17, and U-19 age groups.[22] Additionally, up to nine non-academy players in the same age groups can be claimed under the Homegrown Exclusivity exception, as long as they reside in the club’s homegrown territory, which is set by the league to govern where clubs can scout and sign Homegrown players.[23] A player becomes Homegrown Exclusive when they are included on a club’s “Homegrown Player List,” limiting the player from being recruited by competing clubs.[24]

This upcoming 2025 MLS season, a third of all MLS players came up through their respective club’s academy system.[25]Additionally, three-quarters of players who are 21 years old or younger are products of MLS academies.[26]  San Diego FC, the newest expansion club debuting in the 2025 season, has the largest and most expensive academy club strategy in league history.[27]Some clubs, such as Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, and LA Galaxy, have even established their own high schools for their youth academy players.[28] The Philadelphia Union has gone as far as selling their SuperDraft selections for the next three years to isolate their focus on academy player development.[29] Further, academy systems bring in revenue when players are transferred to clubs overseas. Eighteen MLS academy alumnus have been sold to international teams for transfer fees over $5 million[30] The youth academy system is a growing success for investors, so it is no surprise that clubs have shifted their focus from the SuperDraft to the academies.[31]

The league has gradually decreased the number of draft rounds since its inception. The growing popularity of the academy system may support further reducing the SuperDraft to two, or even one, round from it’s current three-round system. The low number of draftee success stories and the shifted focus towards the academy system make it difficult to argue in support of the draft, questioning whether it’s time to abandon the SuperDraft altogether. Clubs vary in their reliance on academy talent or international player acquisition, but no MLS club wholly relies on the draft for roster composition.[32] However, the rare, but noteworthy collegiate draft success stories may be what fuels the SuperDraft to survive in the face of continued academy success.

KATIE OLIVER (guest writer) is a 1L at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. She played Division 1 soccer at Radford University and the University of New Hampshire. After law school, she hopes to work in the sports and entertainment industry and is interested in contract law.

References:

[1] Photo by Moosnout on Flixr.

[2] Kyle Hayward. Know your league explainer: SuperDraft: Minnesota United FC. MNUFC. (Dec. 19, 2024).  https://www.mnufc.com/news/know-your-league-explainer-superdraft#:~:text=The%20draft%20hasn’t%20always,time%20in%20another%20club’s%20academy.

[3] Id.

[4] Kurt Badenhausen. NBA draft 2024: Rookie Contracts for every first-round pick. Sportico.com. (Jun. 27, 2024). https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2024/nba-draft-first-round-rookie-contracts-1234785595/

[5] A guide to the 2023 MLS superdraft. (n.d.). https://velawood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/A-Guide-to-the-2023-MLS-Superdraft.pdf

[6] Mlssoccer. MLS SuperDraft 2025 rules and regulations. MLS. (Dec.17, 2024).  https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-superdraft-2025-rules-and-regulations

[7] Id.

[8]  Greg Seltzer. MLS SuperDraft retrospective: Checking in on the state of the 2019 draft class. mlssoccer. (Jan. 9, 2020). https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-superdraft-retrospective-checking-state-2019-draft-class

[9] A guide to the 2023 MLS superdraft, supra.

[10] Goal.com. What is generation adidas in MLS? rules and notable players from system built to elevate U.S. Soccer Development. Goal.com US. (Sep. 20, 2023).  https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/what-is-generation-adidas-in-mls/blt23e77978fa1a4bef

[11] Mlssoccer. 2025 Generation Adidas Class announced. MLS. (Dec. 18, 2024). https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2025-generation-adidas-class-announced

[12] Id.

[13] Goal.com, supra note 10.

[14] Id.

[15] Mlssoccer. Roster rules and regulations. mlssoccer. (Feb. 5, 2025).  https://www.mlssoccer.com/about/roster-rules-and-regulations

[16] Id.

[17] MLS Players salary guide. MLS Players Association. (n.d.). https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide

[18] Jonathan Wright, Is playing college soccer the best route to making the MLS? GMTM. (n.d.). https://gmtm.com/articles/what-percentage-of-us-soccer-players-play-professionally-in-the-u-s

[19] Mlssoccer. Major League Soccer Announces Player Development Guidelines. MLS. (Feb. 21, 2024). https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-announces-player-development-guidelines

[20] Id.

[21] Major League Soccer Announces Player Development Guidelines, supra.

[22] Id.

[23] Id.

[24] Id.

[25] Eben Novy-Williams. San Diego FC owner brings rare academy-first portfolio to MLS. Sportico.com. (Feb. 20, 2025). https://www.sportico.com/personalities/owners/2025/mohamed-mansour-san-diego-fc-owner-academy-right-to-dream-1234829097/

[26] Id.

[27] Id.

[28] Id.  

[29] Mlssoccer. Colorado Rapids acquire SuperDraft selections from Philadelphia Union. MLS. (Dec. 10, 2024). htthttps://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-acquire-superdraft-selections-from-philadelphia-union

[30] Novy-Williams, supra note 25.

[31] How MLS clubs can solidify their path to profitability. Sportsology Group. (Jun. 28, 2023). https://sportsologygroup.com/articles/mls-five-club-profitability-strategies

[32] Novy-Williams, supra note 25.