NEW YORK (Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015) – Major League Soccer today released a 2015-16 Offseason Calendar, outlining upcoming offseason events and timetables.
2015-16 Offseason Calendar
Monday, Dec. 7 |
List of all players eligible for Free Agency and Re-Entry Draft made public |
Tuesday, Dec. 8 |
Starting at noon CT, Free Agents may engage in negotiations with MLS clubs outside of their previous club<br>
List of eligible players for the Waiver Draft made public |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Waiver Draft at 3:30 p.m. CT |
Thursday, Dec. 10 |
Starting at 4 p.m. CT, clubs may no longer sign or trade their own Re-Entry eligible players |
Friday, Dec. 11 |
Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft at 2 p.m. CT |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
Starting at 10 a.m. CT, clubs may no longer sign or trade their own Re-Entry eligible players |
Thursday, Dec. 17 |
Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft at 2 p.m. CT |
Jan. 7-12, 2016 |
2016 adidas MLS Player Combine |
Jan. 14, 2016 |
2016 MLS SuperDraft |
Jan. 22, 2016 |
2016 MLS preseason begins |
Free Agency
Players 28 years of age and with eight years of MLS service who are out of contract, or have not had their option exercised, are eligible for Free Agency in 2015, allowing them the freedom to negotiate a new contract with any MLS club, including their previous club, subject to certain restrictions. A player has fulfilled a year of service if they were on a club’s roster prior to Aug. 15 or played in at least one regular season or postseason game in the relevant year.
The list of eligible Free Agents will be released on Monday, Dec. 7. Starting at noon CT on Tuesday, Dec. 8, Free Agents may engage in negotiations with MLS clubs outside of their previous club.
Waiver Draft
The Waiver Draft will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m. CT. The Waiver Draft will consist of players who have been waived by their clubs and are not eligible for Re-Entry or Free Agency. Under contract players who are selected in the Waiver Draft will be automatically added to the drafting club’s roster. Clubs that claim Out-of-Contract players in the Waiver Draft must issue a genuine offer to the selected player.
The Waiver Draft Order is determined by the reverse order of the final standings in the MLS season, taking into account postseason performance. The list of eligible players for the 2015 Waiver Draft will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 8. For more information on the Waiver Process, click here.
Re-Entry Draft
Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft will be held on Friday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. CT. Players who are available in Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft are:
- Players who are at least 23 years old and have a minimum of three MLS service years whose options were not exercised by their clubs (available at option salary for 2016).
- Players who are at least 25 years old with a minimum of four years of MLS experience who are out of contract and whose club does not wish to re-sign them at their previous salary (available for at least their 2015 salary).
- Free Agents that choose to participate
The list of eligible players for the 2015 Re-Entry Draft will be announced on Monday, Dec. 7. Players that are not selected in Stage One will be made available in Stage Two on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. CT.
The Re-Entry Draft Order is determined by the reverse order of the final standings in the MLS season, taking into account postseason performance.
For more information on the 2015 Re-Entry Process, click here.
2016 adidas MLS Player Combine & MLS SuperDraft
The 2016 adidas MLS Player Combine will be held from Jan. 7-12, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Further details on the Combine, including invitees, game times and locations will be announced at a later date. Information on the event will be updated here.
Following the Combine, the 2016 MLS SuperDraft will held on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Information on the event will be updated here.
2016 MLS Preseason
2016 MLS preseason training camps will officially open on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016.
