With the 2025 Primary Transfer Window set to close on April 23, it's a good time to check in on which clubs in Major League Soccer are positioned to add the kind of high-impact players who demand higher salaries, higher fees, and scarce roster positions.
To that end allow us to introduce the MLS Roster Matrix, which graphs the Roster Flexibility and Financial Flexibility of each club.
2025 MLS Roster Matrix
We filled the matrix using data from the Club Roster Profiles released by MLS earlier this year. The profiles not only detail the roster status for each team but also include the General Allocation Money available to every club as of March 7, 2025. In addition, we calculated the incoming transfer fees over the past two years to better assess the financial flexibility of every club: It's easier to spend money when you have money to spend.
In other words, the MLS Roster Matrix is both a science and an art. It's based on verifiable information — and some financial vibes.
The Most Roster Flexibility: New York City FC, Columbus Crew
New York City FC stand out as the club with the most roster flexibility in the league. New York City's roster has one open Designated Player slot, three International Slots, and one U-22 Initiative Player slot. It's comparable to the flexibility of Columbus Crew's roster, which has one Designated Player Slot, one International Slot, and three U-22 Initiative Player slots.
Both DC United and CF Montréal also have one free Designated Player slot and one U-22 Initiative Player slot, but it doesn't have any International Slots: If they're to add a high-profile signing, they'll need to make roster moves.
New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake also have free Designated Player slots — but no U-22 Initiative Player slots, or International Slots.
The Most Financial Flexibility: New York City FC, San Diego FC, Inter Miami
But New York City also has the greatest financial flexibility in the league. The club has $4,223,082 in available GAM, the most in the league. San Diego FC is second, with $4,124,655 in available GAM.
In addition, we calculate that New York City took in $44.58 million in transfer fees these past two years, second only to the $65.96 million taken in by Atlanta United. The two clubs are far ahead of the rest of the league, and account for almost 29% of incoming transfer fees for all of MLS (Atlanta accounts for 17.25%, New York City 11.66%). Only five additional clubs took in more than $20 million, and more than half the league took in less than $10 million.
San Diego doesn't have anything in the way of incoming transfer fees, but the expansion club has $4,124,655 in available GAM, and the new ownership is spendy, which gives the organization more financial flexibility than Atlanta.
Through the wizardry of bookkeeping, Inter Miami has an astonishing $3,151,842 in available GAM despite maintaining the most bulked-up payroll in MLS. Additionally, the team has done a good job of developing and selling young players, earning $22.35 million in transfer fees in this past year alone. But there is no room in their roster to make any additions: They'll need to move a player out if they sign anybody new.
The Most Flexible Club: New York City FC
By all measures, New York City has the most roster and financial flexibility in the league. They have the open roster slots and the resources to add four or more high-impact signings, and round out a squad that has been bringing up players from NYCFC II on Short-Term Agreements to fill out gameday lineups.
Whether or not the club will make any signings depends entirely on Sporting Director David Lee. Earlier this year, Lee indicated that he was waiting to identify areas of need before entering the marketplace. But in a Q+A this week, the sporting director inferred that no new signings are likely until the Secondary Transfer Window opens in the summer.
Andrew Leigh
The Least-Flexible Club: LA Galaxy
At the other end of the matrix is LA Galaxy, with zero available roster slots and zero dollars in available GAM. There's not much room to maneuver for the club that won the 2024 title, and that currently sit 27th in the league.
They're not the only organization with a built-out roster: Charlotte FC, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Inter Miami, LAFC, Philadelphia Union, and Portland Timbers are also using all of their slots.
