Everything NYCFC fans should know about the changes to the MLS roster rules | OneFootball

The preseason is finally here and New York City FC is out in California preparing for the 2025 season. Most of the first team is together and most of the players from last season are back in 2025. The Pigeons have their new head coach, Pascal Jansen, and will aim to develop a squad that will have a stronger campaign than they did under Nick Cushing.

Meanwhile, NYCFC will still see some departures and additions to the squad before and possibly at the beginning of the season. The biggest departure so far was James Sands, who was sent out on loan to FC St. Pauli. He could come back to the Big Apple this summer if his loan does not go well, but ideally, he will be successful and extend the loan for the following Bundesliga season.

The Pigeons have some flexibility with their roster, but this offseason is and likely will continue to be quieter compared to previous seasons. At the same time, Major League Soccer announced some changes to the roster rules in 2025. As such, NYCFC could take advantage of these rules to create the roster for this year and beyond. But what are those changes?

The MLS roster rules are great for NYCFC and the league

The best update that NYCFC and MLS fans should know about is regarding trades. Teams can now trade players for unlimited cash and vice versa. The maximum they can trade is two players for their team and then acquire up to two players. In other words, this is an internal system to buy and sell players.

So, if there is a player on another team, and NYCFC does not want to do a typical trade, then they could pay for that particular player. The one caveat is that the amount spent "will be applied to the player’s Salary Budget charge."

Another fantastic change is about the Off-Roster Homegrown players. Before, Homegrown players could only do four short-term agreements in a season to play with a first team. Now, they can appear in six MLS matches and any cup tournament games. Therefore, some of the Homegrown players who will predominantly play for NYCFC II can be given some opportunities to play with the first team.

NYCFC fans should also know about the changes regarding Designated Players on loan. Previously, only Young DPs on loan would allow teams to sign another DP. Per MLS, "if an international club absorbs a Designated Player’s entire salary during a loan period, the MLS side will open that Designated Player slot during the loan period, regardless of the player’s initial acquisition costs."

Notably, a player must have played a full season with their MLS team. So, before, the Pigeons could sign another DP since Talles Magno was on loan since he was a Young DP. Now, if someone like Thiago Martins were to leave on loan, NYCFC could bring in a new DP, pending the above conditions are met.

Of course, that would depend on which Roster Construction Model the front office decides on for the first half of the season. MLS teams can have three DPs and three U22 Initiative Players or two DPs and four U22 Initiative Players. The difference this year is that MLS sides can adjust the model midseason pending transfers made in the summer.

There were a few more rule changes, but the ones above are the most important ones NYCFC supporters should know.