Updates promote further communication between clubs and families, along with youth player movement
NEW YORK (Tuesday, September 16, 2025) – Major League Soccer today published updates to the MLS Player Development Guidelines, which set out the provisions governing player development programs and MLS Homegrown players. These updates help improve transparent communication between clubs and families and also reduces the number of players on the Homegrown Player List to promote player movement.
Notably, MLS has reduced the number of players on the Homegrown Player List beginning immediately. MLS clubs can list up to 35 Registered Academy Players – which are players in their academy between the U15 and U19 age groups – a decrease from 45 players in the previous iteration of the guidelines. Additionally, MLS clubs may list up to five non-academy players who reside within a club’s Homegrown Territory – known as the “Plus Five” – a reduction from the previous maximum of nine players.
To improve communication between clubs and players on the “Plus Five,” MLS clubs must provide written notification to the player, player’s family, and their respective club that the player has been added to their “Plus Five” list. MLS clubs must also offer the player a position in the club’s academy in the current MLS NEXT season as part of this notification.
Importantly, for academy players moving to or between MLS clubs, MLS has reiterated within the guidelines that no cash is ever exchanged between clubs for player movement.
The above changes made to the MLS Player Development Guidelines were a collaborative effort after gathering feedback from clubs, parents, and academy directors from across MLS and MLS NEXT.
