Houston Dynamo Offseason Calendar: Drafts, Free Agency, and more
(image via Ricky Vega)
The Major League Soccer season officially ends this weekend with MLS Cup but the Houston Dynamo offseason is underway. The club have announced their end-of-year roster decisions which were due on November 27. The offseason calendar is about to kick into high gear as teams prepare for 2025. Here are some key dates over the next couple of weeks for Dynamo fans to keep an eye on:
December 9 - Half-Day Trade Window
After the summer’s transfer window closed, this will be the first time teams can make moves. From 8 AM to noon MLS clubs can trade with other MLS clubs.
December 11 - San Diego FC Expansion Draft
New expansion club San Diego FC will get to choose five players from the other 29 MLS clubs in the 2024 Expansion Draft. The other 29 MLS clubs can choose 12 players on their roster to protect. The Dynamo’s protected player list will be announced on December 10. We took a look at the current roster and predicted who Houston might protect from being picked.
December 12 - Free Agency Opens
MLS teams can start negotiating with players, other than their own, that are eligible for free agency beginning at noon.
The official free agent list will be released on December 10.
December 12 - End-of-Year Waivers process begins
The End-of-Year Waivers process begins with the order of selection in reverse order of 2024 season finish, considering postseason performance. Expansion club San Diego FC get the 30th pick, the final selection in each round.
The official list of eligible players available for the end-of-year waivers will be released on December 10. Players who are out of contract and do not meet the minimum requirements for the Re-Entry process or free agency will be eligible for the end-of-year waivers process.
December 13 - Re-Entry Draft Stage 1
The Re-Entry Process (Stage 1 and Stage 2) will also be conducted in reverse order of 2024 season finish, considering postseason performance, like the Waivers process, beginning at noon.
Eligible Players include those who are at least 22 years old, have a minimum of one service year, and who are not eligible for Free Agency. An out-of-contract player who has received a Bona Fide Offer from his current club will not be eligible for the Re-Entry Draft. The MLS Cup champions will get the 29th pick, and expansion club San Diego FC will have the 30th.
The official list of eligible players for the Re-Entry Draft will be released on December 13.
December 19 - Re-Entry Draft Stage 2
Stage 2 is the same as Stage 1 and will include all players who were not selected by MLS clubs during Stage 1. Not all unselected Stage 1 players will be available for selection as players may re-sign with their previous club between stages or may opt out of the process.
The official list of eligible players for the Re-Entry Draft will be released on December 19.
December 20 - MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft will take place on December 20 at a time to be determined. The draft is in reverse order of the 2024 MLS season and positioning also accounts for where teams finish in the MLS Cup playoffs, similar to the Re-Entry and End-of-Year Waivers Process. The difference in the order for the SuperDraft is that San Diego will get the first pick in the SuperDraft.
The Dynamo will have the 18th pick in the first round.
Stay tuned to all our social media and here at BayouCitySoccer.net for all the latest moves and news this offseaosn.
