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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 were subject to the draft. San Diego had five selections in the expansion draft. Once a player was chosen from any of the 29 teams, that team could not have another player chosen. That team also received $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 had 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, were part of a team's roster and were eligible for the draft. If the team had an option on the player's contract and protects the player, the team was not obligated to exercise that option after the draft. In the case of players with no-trade clauses, a team must have used one of their protection slots for that player. Teams must have protected one less player in international slots than there were recently on their roster (i.e. 4 players on international slots, 3 players must have been protected). The list of eligible players was released on December 10, 2024. The draft was shown on San Diego FC's website and a local channel in San Diego.