The 2019 MLS End-of-year Waivers takes place 15 days after MLS Cup 2019, occurring after the MLS Expansion Draft and before Stage 1 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Key dates:
- Thursday November 21, 1 p.m. ET – Option Exercise Deadline: All MLS clubs must notify the League Office in writing of the players whose options they are exercising.
- Friday, November 22 at 12 p.m. ET – A list of players eligible for MLS End-of-Year Waiver is officially released
- Monday, November 25 at 3 p.m. ET – MLS End-of-Year Waivers
Key parameters:
The MLS End-of-Year Waivers is primarily composed of mostly young players who are relatively new to MLS.
Players who are either out-of-contract or whose contract option is not being exercised by a club, and who do not meet the minimum years of service requirement for the Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency.
Clubs that claim players out of contract at the end of 2019 must issue a genuine offer to the selected player.
Players under contract for 2020 who are selected in MLS End-of-Year Waivers will be automatically added to the drafting club’s roster.
MLS End-of-Year Waivers Process
The selection process is determined by the reverse order of the final standings in the 2019 MLS season, taking into account postseason performance.
FC Cincinnati will get the first pick and the MLS Cup champion will get the 24th pick. Expansion side Nashville SC will get the 25th pick and Inter Miami CF will have the 26th and final selection in each round.
Once the MLS End-of-Year Waivers process is complete, those players who have not been selected (known as “clearing waivers”) may be signed by any MLS team on a first-come, first-served basis.
Source: MLS Communications with edits by Russo Soccer