Introduced as part of the 2021 MLS Roster Rules, the U22 Initiative encouraged MLS clubs to sign up young players to lucrative deals at a reduced budget charge. 

In 2024, the rules were changed, allowing new roster-building mechanisms for MLS Teams. 

Teams now can decide their own choice of their roster designation: Either 3 Designated Players & 3 U22s per team or the teams could decide to have only 2 Designated Players with 4 U22s with an additional bonus of $2,000,000 in general allocation money for prioritizing younger players which allowed teams further flexibility.

U22 acquisition fees do not count against a team’s Salary Cap, providing enhanced opportunities to domestic and international rising stars.

Here at Spotrac, we’re breaking down the rules & current list of U22 Initiative Players.

U22 Initiative Player Rules

U22 Initiative Roster Slots

Number of Slots

Each MLS team will have either three or four U22 Initiative roster slots available, with each occupying one of the 20 existing Senior Roster Slots. The number of U22 Initiative Slots available to each team will be based on the roster construction model they choose at the beginning of a respective season. For 2025, clubs had to choose their roster construction path by the Roster Compliance Date on Feb. 21.

Eligibility for U22 Initiative Slot

Age: A player must be twenty-two years old or younger in the first year he is eligible to play in an MLS game (e.g., not eligible for 2026 if he turns 23 in 2026). A player who signs at age 22 or younger may continue to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot through the year in which he turns 25, provided that for non-Homegrown players, such player is on his initial contract. A Homegrown player may continue to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot through the year in which he turns 25, provided he must be on his first or second contract and the applicable contract must have been signed at age 22 or younger.

Contract: A player is eligible to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot if signing his first contract with MLS, provided that player meets age and compensation requirements, as either a Homegrown player, or, as an international or domestic player playing outside of MLS. A player will be eligible to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot during his second contract provided that he meets the age and compensation requirements and signed his first contract with MLS as either a Homegrown or SuperDraft player.

Compensation: A player’s salary may not exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge in any given year, including option years. A Homegrown or SuperDraft player on his second contract may earn up to $200,000 above the Maximum Salary Budget Charge in any given year, including option years.

In addition, clubs may pay, without limit, additional amounts in the form of acquisition fees (i.e. transfer or loan fees).

U22 Initiative Slot Budget Charge

Players occupying a U22 Initiative Slot will have a Salary Budget Charge that mirrors that of a Young Designated Player:

• Ages 20 and younger: $150,000
• Ages 21-25: $200,000

All such amounts above the first $150,000 or $200,000 accounted for on the Salary Budget will be paid on a discretionary basis by the club.

Transfer of Player

In the event a player occupying a U22 Initiative Slot is transferred outside of the League, 95% of the proceeds of the sale (after out-of-pocket amounts are recouped) will be paid to the club and such amounts may be converted to General Allocation Money.

To remove a U22 Initiative Slot classification, a club may: transfer the player out of MLS, remove the player from a U22 Initiative Slot using Targeted Allocation Money or General Allocation Money, loan the player outside of MLS, utilize one of its two Buyouts, or transition the player to a Designated Player slot.

If the contract of a player occupying a U22 Initiative Slot is renegotiated prior to its conclusion, the League will not reclassify the player and he may continue to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot until his initial contract would have otherwise expires depending on compensation.

Salary Limitation in Options and Years 26+

If a player’s contract includes Options, compensation during the Options may exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge only if it is in a year the player is no longer required to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot. These players would not be eligible to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot in the Option year regardless of age if the compensation exceeds the Maximum Salary Budget Charge.

If a player’s contract covers years in which he is no longer eligible to occupy a U22 Initiative Slot (i.e., the seasons of his 26+ birthday), the player’s compensation may exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge provided it is during an Option year.

As of January 18, 2026, there have been 158 total U22 Initiative Players in MLS history. Currently, there are 83 Active U22 Initiative Players in MLS.

Active U22 Players & their 2025 guaranteed salaries

Quick Caveat: All Salaries are based on the information provided on the MLSPA Salary Guide (as of October 1, 2025). 

Players that are new to MLS and have recently been signed to U22 deals will be listed but will have their salary as N/A. Players that have been signed to U22 deals and have previously played in MLS will have their last recorded salary listed.

Reminder: Players occupying a U22 Initiative Slot will have a Salary Budget Charge that mirrors that of a Young Designated Player: (Ages 20 and younger: $150,000 & Ages 21-25: $200,000)

1. Gabriel Pirani - $791,700

2. Kevin Kelsy - $752,804

3. Dor Turgeman - $740,000

4. Joeng Sang-bin - $737,458 

5. Dominik Marczuk - $735,500 

6. Luca Langoni - $732,283

7. Hugo Picard - $731,244

8. Julian Fernández - $724,300

9. Nectarios Triantis - $722,665

10. Lucas Sanabria - $694,800

11. Jovan Mijatović (on loan at OH Leuven) - $687,500

12. Kerwin Vargas - $683,750

13. Jalen Neal - $681,250

14. Dje D’Avilla - $660,490

15. Ahmed Qasem - $650,000

16. Igor Jesus - $616,684

17. Artem Smolyakov - $613,297

18. Samuel Gidi - $611,050

19. Hennadii Synchuk - $606,000

20. Alexis Manyoma (on loan at Colorado Rapids from Estudiantes de La Plata) - $592,950

21. Agustín Ojeda - $577,833

22. Ilay Feingold - $575,000

23. Antony - $555,342

24. Lawrence Ennali - $549,250

25. Mateo Silvetti - $547,078

26. Patrick Yazbek - $531,013

27. Ibrahim Aliyu - $526,375

28. David Martinez - $525,000

29. Chris Durkin - $520,000

30. Quinn Sullivan - $518,000

31. Wiktor Bogacz - $516,240

32. Diego Luna - $499,833

33. Noah Eile - $493,200

34. David Ayala - $477,000

35. Jonathan Perez - $470,956

36. Tomas Aviles - $467,492

37. Nikola Petković - (on loan at Charlotte FC from Seattle Sounders) - $466,250

38. Fallou Fall - $462,419

39. Nicolas Romero - $457,500

40. Ted Ku-Dipietro - $456,000

41. Idan Toklomati - $452,700

42. Tomas Angel - $443,750

43. Owen Gene - $430,100

44. Edier Ocampo - $428,299

45. Kim Joon-Hong - (on loan at Suwon Samsung Bluewings) - $427,000

46. Nelson Palacio (on loan at FC Zürich) - $423,167

47. Dennis Gjengaar - $418,769

48. Ender Echenique - $414,180

49. Gilberto Flores - $411,664

50. Sunusi Ibrahim - $410,000

51. Caden Clark - $407,000

52. Jack McGlynn - $399,320

53. Geovane Jesus - $397,000

54. Kenji Cabrera - $390,053

55. Enes Sali - $370,000

56. Julian Aude - $360,000

57. Josh Atencio - $350,000

58. Mateja Djordjevic - $347,500

59. Leonardo Barroso - $345,000

60. Cassius Mailula - $341,003

61. Ariath Piol - $336,859

62. Telasco Segovia - $335,000

63. Viktor Radojević - $307,000

64. Nicolás Dubersarsky - $297,986

65. Olwethu Makhanya - $288,875

66. Jake Girdwood-Reich - $281,027

67. Pedro Soma - $275,453

68. Nelson Quiñónes - $272,894 

69. Baye Coulibaly - $269,500

70. Patrickson Delgado - $260,280 

71. Owen Wolff - $221,600

72. Kaick - $201,900

73. Nicolas Rodriguez - (on loan at Atletico Nacional) - $200,500

74. Reed Baker-Whiting - $158,000

75. Brooklyn Raines - $143,063

76. Noel Buck - $115,000

77. Tiago Souza - Salary N/A

78. Ezekiel Alladoh - Salary N/A 

79. Tomás Jacob - Salary N/A

80. Luis Otávio - Salary N/A

81. Puso Dithejane - Salary N/A

82. Mbekezeli Mbokazi - Salary N/A

83. Ran Binyamin - Salary N/A

U22 Player History by Club

Quick Caveat: The below list indicates players who have had their contract assigned as a U22 Initiative Player (U22) contract during their time in MLS. Players may have not always had a U22 contract, or have later had their contract negotiated to a U22 level.

Former MLS Sides Miami Fusion, Tampa Bay Mutiny, & CD Chivas USA were dissolved prior to the introduction of the U22 Initiative, hence their non-involvement in this article.

Players in bold are currently signed to a U22 contract by their club.

Atlanta United FC

• Franco Ibarra (2021-24)

• Santiago Sosa (2021-24)

• Thiago Almada (2022-24)

• Edwin Mosquera (2022-25

• Tomás Jacob (2026 - Present)

Austin FC

• Rodney Redes (2020-23)

• Moussa Djitte (2021-24)

• Zan Kolmanic (2021 - Present)

• Mateja Djordjevic (2025 - Present)

• Nico Dubersarsky (2025 - Present)

• Owen Wolff (2021 - Present)

Charlotte FC

• Vinicius Mello (2022-24)

• Kerwin Vargas (2022 - Present)

• Idan Toklomati (2024 - Present)

• Nikola Petkovic (2024 - Present)

• Baye Coulibaly (2024 - Present)

Chicago Fire FC

• Jhon Duran (2022-23)

• Georgios Koutsias (2023-25)

• Federico Navarro (2021-24)

• Brian Gutiérrez (2020-25)

• Dje D’Avilla (2025 - Present)

• Leonardo Barroso (2025 - Present)

• Viktor Radojević (2025 - Present)

• Puso Dithejane (2026 - Present)

• Mbekezeli Mbokazi (2026 - Present)

FC Cincinnati

• Isaac Atanga (2021-23)

• Alvaro Barreal (2020-25)

• Gustavo Vallecilla (2021-22)

• Marco Angulo (2023-24)

• Kevin Kelsy (2024)

• Ender Echenique (2025 - Present)

• Dominik Marczuk (2025)

• Samuel Gidi (2025 - Present)

• Gilberto Flores (2025 - Present)

Colorado Rapids

• Lucas Esteves (2021-22)

• Gustavo Vallecilla (2022-23)

• Max Alves de Silva (2022-23)

• Sidnei Tavares (2023)

• Alexis Manyoma (2025 - Present)

• Theodore Ku-Dipietro (2025 - Present)

• Cole Bassett (2025)

Columbus Crew

• Alexandru Matan (2021-24)

• Marino Hinestroza (2024)

• Hugo Picard (2025 - Present)

• Ibrahim Aliyu (2025 - Present)

FC Dallas

• Szabolcs Schon (2021-22)

• Joshue Quinonez (2022)

• Jose Mulato (2022-24)

• Geovane de Jesus (2023 - Present)

• Enes Sali (2024 - Present)

• Kaick (2025 - Present)

• Patrickson Delgado (2025 - Present)

• Ran Binyamin (2026 - Present)

D.C. United

• Chris Durkin (2016-20)

• Ted Ku-DiPitero (2022-24)

• Gabriel Pirani (2024 - Present)

• Caden Clark (2025 - Present)

• Kim Joon-Hong (2025 - Present)

Houston Dynamo FC

• Thiago Rodrigues (2022)

• Ibrahim Aliyu (2023-25)

• Nelson Quinones (2023 - Present)

• Lawrence Ennali (2024 - Present)

• Jack McGlynn (2025 - Present)

Inter Miami CF

• Leonardo Campana (2022-24)

• Benjamin Cremaschi (2022 - Present)

• Emerson Rodriguez (2022-25)

• Tomas Aviles (2023 - Present)

• Diego Gomez (2023-24)

• Facundo Farias (2023-25)

• Federico Redondo (2024-25)

• Mateo Silvetti (2025 - Present)

• Telasco Segovia (2025 - Present)

• David Ayala (2026 - Present)

Sporting Kansas City 

• Marinos Tzionis (2022-24)

• Robert Voloder (2022-25)

• Logan Ndenbe (2022-25)

• Owen Gene (2025 - Present)

• Nicolas Romero (2025 - Present)

• Nectarios Triantis (2025 - Present)

Los Angeles Galaxy

• Efrain Alvarez (2019-23)

• Julian Araujo (2019-23)

• Dejan Joveljic (2021-24)

• Julian Aude (2023 - Present)

• Matheus Nascimento (2025)

• Lucas Sanabria (2025 - Present)

Los Angeles FC

• Diego Palacios (2019-23)

• Jose Cifuentes (2020-23)

• Francisco Ginella (2019-24)

• Stipe Biuk (2023-24)

• Cristian Olivera (2023-25)

• David Martinez (2024 - Present)

• Tomas Angel (2024)

• Omar Campos (2024-25)

• Igor Jesus (2025 - Present)

• Andy Moran (2025)

• Artem Smolyakov (2025 - Present)

Minnesota United FC

• Bongokuhle Hlongwane (2022 - 2025)

• Jeong Sang-bin (2023-25)

• Owen Gene (2025 - Present)

• Nicolas Romero (2025 - Present)

CF Montréal

• Sunusi Ibrahim (2021 - Present)

• George Campbell (2023-25)

• Robert Thorkelsson (2021-24)

• Matko Miljevic (2021-24)

• Joaquin Sosa (2024)

• Jalen Neal (2025 - Present)

• Hennadii Synchuk (2025 - Present)

Nashville SC

• Patrick Yazbek (2024 - Present)

• Dru Yearwood (2024)

• Jonathan Perez (2025 - Present)

• Ahmed Qasem (2025 - Present)

New England Revolution

• Dylan Borrero (2022-24)

• Luca Langoni (2024 - Present)

• Ilay Feingold (2025 - Present)

• Dor Turgeman (2025 - Present)

• Brooklyn Raines (2026 - Present)

New York City FC

• Nicolas Acevedo (2020-24)

• Thiago Andrade (2021-24)

• Santiago Rodriguez (2023-25)

• Monsef Bakrar (2023-25)

• Julian Fernandez (2023 - Present)

• Jovan Mijatovic (2024 - Present)

• Agustin Ojeda (2024 - Present)

Red Bull New York

• Dru Yearwood (2020-23)

• Lucas Monzon (2021-22)

• Andres Reyes (2021-24)

• Dennis Gjengaar (2024 - Present)

• Noah Eile (2024 - Present)

• Wiktor Bogacz (2025 - Present)

Orlando City SC

• Andres Perea (2020-22)

• Gaston Gonzalez (2022-24)

• Cesar Araujo (2022-25)

• Ramiro Enrique (2023-25)

• Heine Gikling Bruseth (2024)

• Nicolas Rodriguez (2025 - Present)

• Luis Otavio (2026 - Present)

• Tiago Souza (2026 - Present)

Philadelphia Union

• Quinn Sullivan (2021 - Present)

• Olwethu Makhanya (2023 - Present)

• Ezequiel Alladoh (2026 - Present)

Portland Timbers

• Santiago Moreno (2021-25)

• David Ayala (2022-25)

• Antony (2023 - Present)

• Kevin Kelsy (2025 - Present)

Real Salt Lake

• Diego Luna (2022 - Present)

• Braian Ojeda (2022-26)

• Carlos Andres Gomez (2023-24)

• Nelson Palacio (2023 - Present)

• Dominik Marczuk (2024 - Present)

• Ariath Piol (2025 - Present)

St. Louis City SC

• Isak Jensen (2023-24)

• Jake Girdwood-Reich (2024 - Present)

• Chris Durkin (2024 - Present)

• Jeong Sang-bin (2025 - Present)

• Fallou Fall (2025 - Present)

San Diego FC

• Tomas Angel (2025 - Present)

• Heine Gikling Bruseth (2025-26)

• Pedro Soma (2025 - Present)

San Jose Earthquakes

• Marcos Lopez (2019-22)

• Cade Cowell (2019-24)

• Noel Buck (2025 - Present)

Seattle Sounders FC

• Josh Atencio (2020-24)

• Leo Chu (2021-24)

• Reed Baker-Whiting (2021 - Present)

• Nikola Petkovic (2026 - Present)

Toronto FC

• Ayo Akinola (2018-24)

• Cassius Mailula (2023 - Present)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

• Pedro Vite (2021-25)

• Deiber Caicedo (2021-25)

• Caio Alexandre (2021-25)

• Edier Ocampo (2024 - Present)

• Kenji Cabrera (2025 - Present)

U22 Initiative Player History by Nation

Quick Caveat: Players are listed by their birth nation. They are NOT listed by what national team they represent / represented

United States: (23) Ayo Akinola, Josh Atencio, Julian Araujo, Cole Bassett, Noel Buck, George Campbell, Caden Clark, Cade Cowell, Benjamin Cremaschi, Chris Durkin, Brian Gutierrez, Theodore Ku-Dipietro, Diego Luna, Jalen Neal, Matko Miljevic, Jack McGlynn, Andres Perea, Jonathan Perez, Brooklyn Raines, Pedro Soma, Quinn Sullivan, Reed Baker-Whiting, Owen Wolff

Argentina: (19) Thiago Almada, Efrain Alvarez, Julian Aude, Tomas Aviles, David Ayala, Alvaro Barreal, Nico Dubersarsky, Ramiro Enrique, Facundo Farias, Julian Fernandez, Gaston Gonzalez, Franco Ibarra, Tomas Jacob, Luca Langoni, Federico Navarro, Agustin Ojeda, Nicolas Romero, Mateo Silvetti, Santiago Sosa, 

Brazil: (16) Antony, Caio Alexandre, Max Alves, Thiago Andrade, Leo Chu, Lucas Esteves, Geovane Jesus, Igor Jesus, Kaick, Vinicius Mello, Lucas Monzon, Matheus Nascimento, Luis Otavio, Gabriel Pirani, Thiago Rodrigues, Tiago Souza

Colombia: (16) Dylan Borrero, Deiber Caicedo, Jhon Duran, Carlos Andres Gomez, Marino Hinestroza, Alexis Manyoma, Edwin Mosquera, Santiago Moreno, Jose Mulato, Edier Ocampo, Nelson Palacio, Andres Reyes, Emerson Rodriguez, Nicolas Rodriguez, Nelson Quinones, Kerwin Vargas 

Ecuador: (8) Marco Angulo, Leonardo Campana, Jose Cifuentes, Patrickson Delgado, Diego Palacios, Joshue Quinonez, Gustavo Vallecilla, Pedro Vite

Uruguay: (7 ) Nicolas Acevedo, Cesar Araujo, Francisco Ginella, Cristian Olivera, Santiago Rodriguez, Lucas Sanabria, Joaquin Sosa

South Africa: (5) Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Puso Dithejane, Olwethu Makhanya, Cassius Mailula, Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Australia: (4) Jake Girdwood-Reich, Ariath Piol, Nectarios Triantis, Patrick Yazbek

Israel: (4) Ran Binyamin, Ilay Feingold, Idan Toklomati, Dor Turgeman

Paraguay: (4) Gilberto Flores, Diego Gomez, Braian Ojeda, Rodney Redes

Serbia: (4) Mateja Djordjevic, Jovan Mijatovic, Nikola Petkovic, Viktor Radojević 

Venezuela: (4) Ender Echenique, Kevin Kelsy, David Martinez, Telasco Segovia, 

Ghana: (3) Isaac Atanga, Ezequiel Alladoh, Samuel Gidi

Germany: (2) Lawrence Ennali, Robert Voloder

France: (2) Owen Gene, Hugo Picard

Nigeria: (2) Ibrahim Aliyu, Sunusi Ibrahim

Norway: (2) Heine Gikling Bruseth, Dennis Gjengaar

Poland: (2) Wiktor Bogacz, Dominik Marczuk

Portugal: (2) Leonardo Barroso, Sidnei Tavares

Senegal: (2) Moussa Djitte, Fallou Fall

South Korea: (2) Kim Joon-Hong, Jeong Sang-bin

Sweden: (2) Noah Eile, Ahmed Qasem

Ukraine: (2) Artem Smolyakov, Hennadii Synchuk

United Kingdom: (2) Tomas Angel, Dru Yearwood

Algeria: (1) Monsef Bakrar

Belgium: (1) Logan Ndenbe 

Bosnia & Herzegovina: (1) Dejan Joveljic

Canada: (1) Enes Sali

Côte d’Ivoire: (1) Dje D’Avilla

Croatia: (1) Stipe Biuk

Cyprus: (1) Marinos Tzionis

Denmark: (1) Isak Jensen

Greece: (1) Georgios Koutsias

Hungary: (1) Szabolcs Schon

Iceland: (1) Robert Thorkelsson

Ireland: (1) Andrew Moran

Japan: (1) Kenji Cabrera

Mali: (1) Baye Coulibaly

Mexico: (1) Omar Campos

Peru: (1) Marcos Lopez

Romania: (1) Alexandru Matan

Slovenia: (1) Žan Kolmanič

Spain: (1) Federico Redondo