With the new season under a month away, Major League Soccer announced updates to transfer windows, along with roster rules and regulations.
The Primary Transfer Window opens on January 26 and runs through March 26. Teams will have more time to add to their rosters in the Secondary Transfer Window, which opens on July 13 and closes on September 2. It marks the first time, excluding the COVID-adjusted 2020 season, the league will have its transfer window align closer to top leagues around the world. A move intended to allow the opportunity to add world-class talent ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The league also confirmed its roster compliance (February 20 at 8 p.m. ET) and roster freeze (October 9th) dates for the 2026 season.
Thursday also saw changes to Cash for Player Trades, loans, and international roster spots. The biggest one is the elimination of restrictions on the number of Cash for Player Trades a club can make. After its introduction last year, clubs were limited to executing one per season. With the restriction limited, clubs can complete an unlimited number of these moves.
Cash for Player Trades have been utilized heavily by New England thus far. Especially this offseason, as the mechanism was used to move on from Tomás Chancalay and acquire Brooklyn Raines. Age restrictions and the number of intraleague trades were also eliminated on Thursday.
One addition announced in Thursday’s release revolves around trading international slots. International slots traded during or before the Primary Transfer Window can include clauses to have said international slot return to the club on a specific date during the Secondary Transfer Window, as long as both sides agree to the terms.
