New York City FC choose U22 Initiative Player Model

Major League Soccer just announced roster construction models for the remainder of the 2024 season. All clubs in the league were given the choice between the Designated Player Model, which allows up to three Designated Players and up to three U22 Initiative slots, and the U22 Initiative Player Model, which allows one Designated Player slot to be exchanged for an additional U22 Initiative slot plus an additional $1 million in General Allocation Money this year.¹

To no surprise, New York City FC opted for the U22 Initiative Player Model. They are one of 10 clubs to do so, while 19 chose the Designated Player Model. (You will find a full list of clubs and roster models below.) NYCFC has the youngest squad in MLS, with eight players ages 22 and under in the First Team² and the club’s roster is best served by the flexibility of using four U22 designations and adding $1 million in GAM.

Just last Friday, NYCFC loaned Designated Player Talles Magno to SC Corinthians in Brazil. By doing so, New York City Sporting Director David Lee put the roster in compliance with the U22 Initiative Player Model.

$1 million is a lot of GAM

In 2024, all MLS clubs are allotted $2,585,000 million in GAM. But because GAM can be traded, each club’s actual total sum is different and is guarded like a military-grade secret.³ Back in May, Hudson River Blue estimated that NYCFC added $300,000 in GAM through trades, plus another $1.2 million for the transfer of Taty Castellanos, and traded away $350,000. By our calculations, that brings the team’s total to about $3.7 million.

This $1 million bonus will give the club a significant GAM bump.

It’s unclear how New York City will use that $1 million. Seemingly, Lee doesn’t need it to put the roster in compliance. Instead, he could shop around the $1 million to other clubs in exchange for an international roster slot, or for other considerations that might help the team in the future.

Should New York City choose the U22 Initiative Player Model again next year, that bonus will climb to $2 million, which will come close to filling the gap left behind by the lapse of the Castellanos transfer GAM. In 2025, after NYCFC give Philadelphia Union $300,000 in GAM for the transfer of Andrés Perea, we estimate that the club could have a balance of $4,285,000.

What new MLS roster rules mean for selling Talles Magno

If Talles Magno leaves this summer, New York City FC will have some newfound roster and financial flexibility with which to replace him.

Hudson River BlueAndrew Leigh

Where does New York City’s roster stand?

Back in May, MLS made the surprise move to release the roster profiles of all clubs in the league. Less than two weeks later, the Major League Soccer Player’s Association made their annual data drop and released all player salaries in the league. By comparing the two, you could see how New York City and the other clubs are (or maybe aren’t?) in compliance with the league’s roster rules.

NYCFC’s roster was mostly straightforward — with the exception of Hannes Wolf. The new signing is paid a Designated Player-level salary of $1.5 million – he earns the second-highest paycheck on the squad – but occupies a Targeted Allocation Money roster spot.

As reported in The Outfield, Wolf is having a strong debut season for New York City, and is on his way to becoming a DP-caliber player for the club. The additional $2 million in GAM next year might not be needed for a player with a TAM slot, but the added flexibility will allow Lee to continue to cover his DP-level salary.

New York City 2024 roster profile released: 5 Takeaways

We crunch the numbers and estimate that NYCFC have at least $3.7 million in GAM.

Hudson River BlueHudson River Blue Staff

2024 MLS player salaries revealed: 7 takeaways

Lionel Messi is the league’s highest-paid player (surprise!), Sergio Busquets got a 394% raise, and New York City FC’s total payroll climbed to $16 million.

Hudson River BlueOliver Strand

In other words, the U22 Initiative Player Model is for clubs looking to build for the future.

Which sounds completely on-brand for New York City.

2024 MLS Roster Construction Models by Club

¹ That will increase to $2 million in GAM next season should the club keep the designation in 2025.

² Julián Fernández, Tayvon Gray, Justin Haak, Mitja Ilenič, Malachi Jones, Christian McFarlane, Jovan Mijatović, and Agustín Ojeda.

³ MLS makes a point of obscuring the GAM available to each club. In the words of the league, “To protect the interests of MLS and its clubs during discussions with prospective players or clubs in other leagues, amounts of Allocation Money currently held by each club will not be shared publicly. Only in the case of a trade will the amount of General Allocation Money involved be made public.”