The MLS Cup Playoffs might be right around the corner, but several clubs will begin preparing to bolster their rosters ahead of the 2022 season.
Maxi Moralez, Sean Davis, and Sebastian Blanco headlined the 47 players listed in Thursday’s announcement of eligible free agents this winter. Albert Rusnak, Jonathan dos Santos, and Shane O’Neill were also among the veteran names set to become free agents at the end of the calendar year, continuing a lengthy list of talented players on the market.
Moralez and Rusnak are two of the consistent attacking players on this list, which would leave both New York City FC and Real Salt Lake with holes in their midfield. Davis has continued to play a leading role in the heart of the New York Red Bulls midfield, while Blanco has come back from injury to help the Portland Timbers clinch a top-four seed in the Western Conference.
The 2020 CBA established new rules for free agency in MLS. Instead of requiring players to be at least 28-years-old and to have at least eight years of MLS experience, the new CBA requires players to be at least 24-years-old and to have at least five years of MLS experience.
This winter’s eligible list of possible free agents is an 149% increase from the same period two years earlier (2019-2020).
Here is a closer look of each club’s scheduled free agents:
2022 MLS Free Agency List
Atlanta United
Austin FC
Out of Contract: Jonathan Bornstein, Johan Kappelhof, Bobby Shuttleworth.
Colorado Rapids
Out of Contract: Dominique Badji, Steven Beitashour, Drew Moor.
Columbus Crew
Out of Contract: Harrison Afful, Evan Bush.
D.C. United
Out of Contract: Frederic Brillant, Yordy Reyna, Chris Seitz.
FC Cincinnati
Out of Contract: Haris Medunjanin.
FC Dallas
Out of Contract: Kyle Zobeck
Houston Dynamo
Out of Contract: Boniek Garcia.
Inter Miami
Out of Contract: Brek Shea.
L.A. Galaxy
Out of Contract: Jonathan dos Santos, Sacha Kljestan.
LAFC
Out of Contract: Raheem Edwards, Jordan Harvey.
Minnesota United
Out of Contract: Osvaldo Alonso, Ethan Finlay.
Nashville SC
Out of Contract: Jalil Anibaba, Abu Danladi.
New England Revolution
Out of Contract: Scott Caldwell, Brad Knighton.
New York City FC
Out of Contract: Maxi Moralez.
New York Red Bulls
Out of Contract: Sean Davis, Daniel Royer.
Orlando City
Out of Contract: Oriol Rosell.
Philadelphia Union
Out of Contract: Ilsinho, Aurelien Collin.
Portland Timbers
Out of Contract: David Bingham.
Real Salt Lake
Out of Contract: Justin Meram, Albert Rusnak.
San Jose Earthquakes
Out of Contract: Matt Bersano.
Seattle Sounders
Out of Contract: Will Bruin, Stefan Cleveland, Shane O’Neill.
Sporting Kansas City
Out of Contract: Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, Kendall McIntosh.
Toronto FC
Out of Contract: Nick DeLeon, Tsubasa Endoh.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Out of Contract: Tosaint Ricketts, Andy Rose.
Unattached
Cody Cropper, Adam Jahn, Matt Lampson, Ike Opara.