2025 MLS NEXT Pro Roster Guidelines
MLS NEXT Pro has announced its Roster Guidelines for the 2025 season.
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 roster during the MLS NEXT Pro Season.
30 roster slots may be filled with professional players. These roster slots include International and Domestic players, and players on loan.
11 roster slots may be filled with amateur players. There shall be a maximum of five (5) youth academy players per team on the field during an official match.
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 may sign players directly to an MLS NEXT Pro agreement, as described above.
2025 ROSTER COMPLIANCE DATE
All Clubs must be in compliance with the MLS NEXT Pro Roster Guidelines by 8 p.m. ET on March 7, 2025.
2025 TRANSFER WINDOW DATES
- Primary Transfer Window: January 31, 2025 – April 23, 2025
- Secondary Transfer Window: July 24, 2025 – August 21, 2025
PLAYER CONTRACTS
All professional 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 or the Player has appeared for an immigrant visa interview by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2025 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 24, 2025) and by the Roster Compliance Date in 2025 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 or the Player has appeared for an immigrant visa interview by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2025 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 24, 2025) and by the Roster Compliance Date in 2025 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. If an international player receives a U.S. green card by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window in 2025 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 17, 2025), he shall not occupy an International Roster Slot; however, if an international player receives a green card on July 18, 2025, he shall occupy an International Roster Slot for the remainder of 2025.
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 2025 (i.e., by 11:59pm ET on July 17, 2025), he shall not occupy an International Roster Slot; however, if an international player is granted Canadian permanent residency on July 18, 2025, he shall occupy an International Roster Slot for the remainder of 2025.
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 must be traded for a minimum of one (1) MLS NEXT Pro season.
- If the MLS NEXT Pro season has already started, the Roster Slot must be traded for the remainder of the season.
- With trades, there is no limit to the number of International Roster Slots an MLS NEXT Pro Club may acquire via trade.
INJURED LIST
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.
