The year that was 2020 disrupted a lot of the financial models for Major League Soccer and resulted in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified back in February, but the 26th season of MLS is now underway while looking largely similar to previous editions, particularly with regards to the MLS Designated Players list 2021.
The Designated Player Rule, also known as the Beckham Rule, allows teams to sign up to three players who are outside the team’s salary cap ($4.9 million in 2021). In essence, this allows teams to compete for star players in the international market (like how the LA Galaxy started this whole rigamarole by signing David Beckham to a five-year contract worth $6.5M annually back in 2007).
Footballers given the Designated Player tag that are over the age of 23 carry a maximum salary budget charge of $612,500, and it’s up to owners as to how much they want to pay them beyond that.
Update: The MLSPA has released salary information for the 2021 season, and we've included it for each DP.
MLS Designated Players List 2021
Atlanta United
Alan Franco (Argentina) | 24-year-old | Center Back
2021 Salary: $505.5K
Josef Martínez (Venezuela) | 27-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $3.9 million
Ezequiel Barco (Argentina) | 22-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
Austin FC
Tomás Pochettino (Argentina) | 25-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $642.5K
Cecilio Domínguez (Paraguay) | 26-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.7 million
Chicago Fire
Ignacio Aliseda (Argentina) | 21-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $821.5K
Robert Berić (Slovenia) | 29-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $2.7 million
Gastón Giménez (Paraguay) | 29-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.4 million
FC Cincinnati
Brenner (Brazil) | 21-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.8 million
Luciano Acosta (Argentina) | 26-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.2 million
Jürgen Locadia (Netherlands) | 27-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $2.8 million
Colorado Rapids
Younes Namli (Denmark) | 26-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $1.3 million
Columbus Crew
Darlington Nagbe (USA) | 30-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.7 million
Lucas Zelarayán (Argentina) | 28-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2 million
Gyasi Zardes (USA) | 29-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
FC Dallas
Bryan Acosta (Honduras) | 27-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $700K
Franco Jara (Argentina) | 32-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $3 million
D.C. United
Edison Flores (Peru) | 26-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $1.7 million
Paul Arriola (United States) | 26-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $1.1 million
Houston Dynamo
Darwin Quintero (Colombia) | 33-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
LA Galaxy
Jonathan dos Santos (Mexico) | 31-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2 million
Javier Hernández (Mexico) | 32-year-old | Stirker
2021 Salary: $6 million
Kévin Cabral (France) | 21-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
Los Angeles FC
Diego Rossi (Uruguay) | 23-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.1 million
Carlos Vela (Mexico) | 32-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $6.3 million
Minnesota United FC
Emanuel Reynoso (Argentina) | 25-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1 million
Adrien Hunou (France) | 27-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: Unknown
Ján Greguš (Slovakia) | 30-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $883.5K
Inter Miami CF
Blaise Matuidi (France) | 34-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.5 million
Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina) | 33-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $5.8 million
Rodolfo Pizarro (Mexico) | 27-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $3.4 million
CF Montreal
Victor Wanyama (Kenya) | 29-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $3.1 million
Nashville SC
Randall Leal (Costa Rica) | 24-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $477.8K
Hany Mukhtar (Germany) | 26-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.5 million
Jhonder Cádiz (Venezuela) | 25-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $1 million
New England Revolution
Gustavo Bou (Argentina) | 31-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $2.1 million
Adam Buksa (Poland) | 24-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $1.1 million
Carles Gil (Spain) | 28-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.8 million
New York City FC
Maximiliano Moralez (Argentina) | 34-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $3.3 million
New York Red Bulls
Patryk Klimala (Poland) | 22-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $1.1 million
Dru Yearwood (England) | 21-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $519.8K
Orlando City SC
Mauricio Pereyra (Uruguay) | 31-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.8 million
Nani (Portugal) | 34-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $2.5 million
Philadelphia Union
Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde) | 27-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1.5 million
Portland Timbers
Sebastián Blanco (Argentina) | 33-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.3 million
Jarosław Niezgoda (Poland) | 26-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $908.8K
Yimmi Chará (Colombia) | 30-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
Real Salt Lake
Albert Rusnák (Slovakia) | 26-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.4 million
Jeizon Ramírez (Venezuela) | 20-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: $401.3K
San Jose Earthquakes
Cristian Espinoza (Argentina) | 26-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.3 million
Seattle Sounders FC
João Paulo (Brazil) | 30-year-old | Midfielder
2021 Salary: $1 million
Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru) | 30-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $2.1 million
Nicolás Lodeiro (Uruguay) | 32-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $2.7 million
Sporting Kansas City
Johnny Russell (Scotland) | 31-year-old | Forward
2021 Salary: $1.6 million
Alan Pulido (Mexico) | 30-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $2.2 million
Toronto FC
Alejandro Pozuelo (Spain) | 29-year-old | Attacking Midfielder
2021 Salary: $4.7 million
Jozy Altidore (United States) | 31-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $3.6 million
Yeferson Soteldo (Venezuela) | 23-year-old | Winger
2021 Salary: Unknown
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Lucas Cavallini (Canada) | 28-year-old | Striker
2021 Salary: $1.4 million
Ali Adnan (Iraq) | 27-year-old | Wing Back
2021 Salary: $1.2 million
