The 2020 MLS SuperDraft was the 21st edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first SuperDraft held exclusively via conference call and web streaming.[1] The first two rounds of the 2020 SuperDraft were held on January 9, 2020 while rounds three and four were held on January 13, 2020.[2] Previously, the SuperDraft had been held in conjunction with the annual January United Soccer Coaches convention.
The SuperDraft format has remained constant throughout its history and closely resembles that of the NFL Draft:
Any expansion teams receive the first picks. MLS has announced that Inter Miami CF[3] and Nashville SC[4] would begin play as expansion teams in 2020. Inter Miami CF would select first, and Nashville SC second.[5]
Non-playoff clubs receive the next picks in reverse order of prior season finish.
Teams that made the MLS Cup Playoffs are then ordered by which round of the playoffs they are eliminated.
The winners of the MLS Cup are given the last selection, and the losers the penultimate selection.
Player selection[]
Player key
*
Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team
^No. 3: FC Cincinnati → Inter Miami CF. November 19, 2019: Inter Miami acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft in exchange for $150,000 of General Allocation Money.[8]
^No. 6: Sporting Kansas City → New England Revolution. August 6, 2018: New England Revolution acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, $100,000 in general allocation money, and $250,000 in targeted allocation money from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for forward Krisztián Németh.[12]
^No. 10: Chicago Fire → New York Red Bulls. January 9, 2020: New York Red Bulls acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Chicago Fire FC in exchange for $100,000 of General Allocation Money.[17]
^No. 11: Colorado Rapids → Nashville SC. January 9, 2020: Nashville SC acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for $75,000 of General Allocation Money.[19]
^No. 13: New England Revolution → Nashville SC. January 9, 2020: Nashville SC acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for $50,000 of General Allocation Money and $50,000 in conditional General Allocation Money.[19]
^No. 17: D.C. United → FC Dallas. May 3, 2019: FC Dallas acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from D.C. United in exchange for $100,000 in general allocation money. Simultaneously, Dallas also waived defender Marquinhos Pedroso who was subsequently claimed by D.C.[25]
^No. 19: LA Galaxy → Toronto FC. April 11, 2019: Toronto FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the No. 2 spot in the MLS Allocation Order from LA Galaxy in exchange for the No. 1 spot in the MLS Allocation Order. LA used its allocation spot to sign defender Giancarlo González.[28]
^No. 21: Philadelphia Union → D.C. United. January 9, 2020: D.C. United acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the No. 21 spot in the MLS Allocation Order from Philadelphia Union in exchange for the No. 17 spot in the MLS Allocation Order and future considerations.[31]
^No. 26: Seattle Sounders → Chicago Fire. November 26, 2019: Chicago Fire FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.[38]
Round 2
^No. 27: Inter Miami → San Jose Earthquakes. November 12, 2019: San Jose Earthquakes acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Inter Miami in exchange for the Homegrown Player Rights to goalkeeper Drake Callender. San Jose may also receive up to $150,000 in general allocation money if certain incentives are met.[40]
^No. 30: Vancouver Whitecaps → New England Revolution. December 10, 2017: New England Revolution acquired a conditional second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and a first-round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for forward Kei Kamara.[43]
^No. 32: Sporting Kansas City → Vancouver Whitecaps. December 14, 2018: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for forward Erik Hurtado. The traded picks are Kansas City's natural selections.[46]
^No. 33: Columbus Crew → Toronto FC. Trade details needed.As retrieved on December 14, 2019, the MLS website stated that Toronto acquired this pick from Columbus via a trade. However, no trade between the clubs involving a 2020 SuperDraft pick was ever announced.
^No. 35: Montreal Impact → Chicago Fire → Seattle Sounders. November 26, 2019: Seattle Sounders FC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland from Chicago Fire FC in exchange for a first-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft.[38] On August 7, 2019, Chicago had acquired this second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, midfielder Micheal Azira, and the No. 6 spot in the MLS Allocation Order from Montreal Impact in exchange defender Jorge Corrales and the No. 1 spot in the MLS Allocation Order. Montreal used its No. 1 allocation ranking to sign midfielder Ballou Tabla on loan for the remainder of the 2019 MLS season. Chicago will also receive $75,000 in 2020 general allocation money from Montreal if Tabla is on an MLS roster for the 2020 season.[49]
^No. 36: Chicago Fire → New York Red Bulls. January 11, 2019: New York Red Bulls acquired a second-round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft from Chicago Fire in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Amando Moreno. Per the 2020 Superdraft tracker posted online by MLS, this second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft was also included in the trade although it was not publicly announced.[51]
^No. 37: Colorado Rapids → Sporting Kansas City → Colorado Rapids. May 8, 2019: Colorado Rapids acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, an international roster spot for 2019, $50,000 in targeted allocation money, and defender Abdul Rwatubyaye from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for midfielder Benny Feilhaber and salary budget considerations. The clubs also swapped positions in the MLS Waiver Order.[53] On February 8, 2018, Kansas City had acquired this second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Colorado in exchange for goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.[54]
^No. 39: New England Revolution → Orlando City. November 25, 2019: Orlando City acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the No. 11 pick in the 2019 MLS End-of-Year Waiver Draft from New England Revolution in exchange for the No. 3 pick in the 2019 MLS End-of-Year Waiver Draft. New England used the No. 3 pick to select goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell.[57]
^No. 42: Portland Timbers → D.C. United. January 23, 2018: D.C. United acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, an international roster spot for 2018, $100,000 in general allocation money, and $100,000 in targeted allocation money from Portland Timbers in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Eryk Williamson.[61]
^No. 43: D.C. United → New England Revolution. January 11, 2019: New England Revolution acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from D.C. United in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, and a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft. The traded picks are all natural selections.[63]
^No. 44: Minnesota United → Orlando City. January 10, 2019: Orlando City SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the No. 4 spot in the MLS Waiver Order from Minnesota United FC in exchange for two fourth-round selections in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and the No. 1 spot in the MLS Waiver Order. Minnesota used its waiver spot to sign midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.[64]
^No. 47: Philadelphia Union → Columbus Crew. July 19, 2019: Columbus Crew SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Philadelphia Union in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Bendik. Columbus also will receive $50,000 in general allocation money for the 2020 MLS season if Bendik meets certain performance conditions.[67]
^No. 49: Atlanta United → Columbus Crew. May 7, 2019: Columbus Crew SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and $100,000 in general allocation money from Atlanta United FC in exchange for midfielder Justin Meram. Columbus also retains a percentage of any future transfer fee should Atlanta transfer Meram outside of MLS.[70]
Round 3
^No. 53: Inter Miami → FC Cincinnati. November 11, 2019: FC Cincinnati acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, $50,000 in general allocation money, and the No. 26 selection in Stage One of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft from Inter Miami CF in exchange for midfielder Victor Ulloa and the No. 1 selection in Stage One of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The traded pick is Miami's natural selection.[75]
^No. 55: FC Cincinnati → Vancouver Whitecaps. December 9, 2018: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from FC Cincinnati in exchange for goalkeeper Spencer Richey. The traded pick is Cincinnati's natural selection.[78]
^No. 56: Vancouver Whitecaps → Montreal Impact. December 9, 2018: Montreal Impact acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and $50,000 in targeted allocation money from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. The traded pick is Vancouver's natural selection.[79]
^No. 60: Houston Dynamo → Montreal Impact. December 17, 2018: Montreal Impact acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Houston Dynamo in exchange for defender Chris Duvall. The traded pick is Houston's natural selection.[81]
^No. 62: Chicago Fire → FC Cincinnati → New York Red Bulls. August 8, 2019: New York Red Bulls acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from FC Cincinnati in exchange for a loan of midfielder Derrick Etienne for the remainder of the 2019 season and an option to purchase Etienne at the end of the loan.[82] On August 1, 2019, FC Cincinnati had acquired this third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the MLS rights to defender Andrew Gutman from Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money. Chicago could also receive up to an additional $150,000 in general allocation money if Gutman meets certain performance-based metrics. Chicago will also receive a percentage of any future revenue should Cincinnati transfer or loan Gutman outside of MLS. The traded pick is Chicago's natural selection.[83]
^No. 65: New England Revolution → D.C. United. January 11, 2019: D.C. United acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, and a second-round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft from New England Revolution in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft. The traded picks are all natural selections.[63]
^No. 70: Minnesota United → Houston Dynamo. November 13, 2019: Houston Dynamo acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and midfielder Darwin Quintero from Minnesota United FC in exchange for midfielder Marlon Hairston, $150,000 in 2020 general allocation money, $150,000 in 2020 targeted allocation money, $150,000 in 2021 general allocation money, and $150,000 in 2021 targeted allocation money.[88]
Round 4
^No. 79: Inter Miami → FC Dallas. January 9, 2020: FC Dallas acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Inter Miami CF in exchange for the MLS rights to goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira.[92]
^No. 81: FC Cincinnati → LA Galaxy. December 12, 2018: LA Galaxy acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and potentially $50,000 in general allocation money (subject to performance metrics) from FC Cincinnati in exchange for the MLS rights to defender Zico Bailey. The traded pick is Cincinnati's natural selection.[93]
^No. 87: Montreal Impact → Colorado Rapids. August 8, 2018: Colorado Rapids acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Montreal Impact in exchange for midfielder Micheal Azira.[96]
^No. 88: Chicago Fire → Minnesota United. September 3, 2019: Minnesota United FC acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and $50,000 in 2020 general allocation money from Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in 2019 general allocation money.[97]
^No. 91: New England Revolution → D.C. United. January 11, 2019: D.C. United acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft, and a second-round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft from New England Revolution in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft. The traded picks are all natural selections.[63]
^No. 101: Atlanta United → Philadelphia Union. December 11, 2016: Philadelphia Union acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Atlanta United FC in exchange for forward Kevin Kratz. The traded pick is Atlanta's natural selection.[100]
^No. 104: Seattle Sounders → Chicago Fire. December 28, 2018: Chicago Fire acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for defender Jonathan Campbell. The traded pick is Seattle's natural selection.[102]
Notable undrafted players[]
Homegrown players[]
Further information: Homegrown Player Rule (Major League Soccer)