Designated Player Rule

The Designated Player Rule is a provision in Major League Soccer (MLS) that allows teams to acquire star players who may demand higher salaries than the team's salary cap permits. Each team can sign up to three designated players whose salaries exceed the cap limit, thus attracting top talent to the league. This rule helps balance financial competitiveness while enabling teams to feature marquee players, which can boost fan interest and overall league visibility. It’s designed to strengthen the league’s quality while maintaining a level of financial fairness among teams.