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The 2024 MLS Expansion Draft was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team San Diego FC that was held on December 11, 2024. The list of eligible players was revealed on December 10, 2024, which included 354 players from the 28 other MLS teams. San Diego FC selected five players in the draft.
The draft was conducted live at the Mission Valley shopping mall adjacent to San Diego FC's apparel store. It was streamed online and televised on KSWB.
Format
All 29 teams from the 2024 season are subject to the draft. San Diego will have five selections in the expansion draft. Once a player is chosen from any of the 29 teams, that team cannot have another player chosen. That team will also receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money, unless the club is eligible for Compensation Allocation per the CBA due to bona fide offers to free agents. Each team have 12 protection slots that they may apply to any draft eligible player on their senior, and supplemental rosters. Generation Adidas players in slots 21–24 of a teams roster, and homegrown under the age of 25 as of the end of the 2024 season were not eligible for the draft. Players with contracts expiring at the end of the season, are part of a team's roster and are eligible for the draft. If the team has an option on the player's contract and protects the player, the team is not obligated to exercise that option after the draft. In the case of players with no-trade clauses, a team must use one of their protection slots for that player. Teams must protect one less player in international slots than are currently on their roster (i.e. 4 players on international slots, 3 players must be protected). The list of eligible players was release on December 10, 2024. The draft will be shown on San Diego FC's website and a local channel in San Diego.