2021 MLS SuperDraft
| 2021 MLS SuperDraft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Soccer |
| Date(s) | January 21, 2021 |
| Time | 2:00 p.m. EST |
| Network(s) | MLSSoccer.com |
| Overview | |
| 76 total selections in 3 rounds | |
| League | Major League Soccer |
| Teams | 27 |
| First selection | Daniel Pereira, Austin FC |
| Most selections | Austin FC, FC Dallas, Nashville SC (5) |
← 2020 2022 → | |
The 2021 MLS SuperDraft was the 22nd edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held every January prior to the start of the MLS season. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first held exclusively via conference call and web streaming.[1] The Draft was once again held virtually, and began on January 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and consisted of three rounds (shortened from four rounds in prior years). Compensatory picks were conveyed to teams that received fourth-round picks via trades.[2][3]
Format
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 Austin FC[4] would begin play as an expansion team in 2021.
- 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 | ||||||||||
| ^ | Member of 2021 Generation Adidas class | ||||||||||
| † | Player who was named to an MLS Best XI and Generation Adidas | ||||||||||
| Signed key | |||||||||||
| 29 | Denotes player who signed for an MLS team (Division I) | ||||||||||
| 21 | Denotes player who signed for a USL Championship team (Division II) | ||||||||||
| 16 | Denotes player who signed for a USL League One, MLS Next Pro, or NISA team (Division III) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Denotes player who signed for a team outside the United States soccer league system | ||||||||||
| Positions key | |||||||||||
| GK | Goalkeeper | DF | Defender | MF | Midfielder | FW | Forward | ||||
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Compensatory picks
The draft was shortened to three rounds, from four rounds as in prior years. Compensatory picks were awarded to clubs that had acquired fourth round picks via earlier trades.
| P | MLS team | Player | Pos. | College | Conference | Academy team | Amateur team | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Sporting Kansas City[Trade 1] | PASS | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 83 | Inter Miami CF[Trade 2] | PASS | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 84 | Real Salt Lake[Trade 3] |  Rene White | FW | NJIT | America East | TSF Academy | Lionsbridge FC | |
| 85 | Inter Miami CF[Trade 4] | PASS | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 86 | Nashville SC[Trade 5] |  Leroy Enzugusi | FW | Drake | MVC | Sporting Kansas City | Lansing United |
- ^ Signed with club prior to the 2021 MLS SuperDraft
2021 SuperDraft trades
- Round 1
- ^ No. 3: Houston Dynamo → Colorado Rapids. January 21, 2021: Colorado Rapids acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Houston Dynamo in exchange for $200,000 in general allocation money and the 6th overall draft pick. The pick was Houston's natural selection.[5]
- ^ No. 5: Atlanta United → D.C. United. January 21, 2021: D.C. United acquired the 5th and 32nd picks from Atlanta United FC in exchange for the 31st pick and $125,000 in general allocation money.
- ^ No. 6: Chicago Fire → Colorado Rapids → Houston Dynamo. December 13, 2020: Colorado Rapids acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Chicago Fire FC in exchange for $125,000 in general allocation money. The pick was Chicago's natural selection.[6]
- ^ No. 6: Colorado Rapids → Houston Dynamo. January 21, 2021: Colorado Rapids acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Houston Dynamo in exchange for $200,000 in general allocation money and the 6th overall draft pick. The pick was Houston's natural selection.[5]
- ^ No. 8: LA Galaxy → Portland Timbers → Orlando City. January 12, 2021: Portland Timbers acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from LA Galaxy in exchange for Jorge Villafaña and swapping first-round selections. The pick was Galaxy's natural selection. Portland subsequently traded Galaxy's pick on January 21, 2021, to Orlando City in exchange for $100,000 general allocation money.[7]
- ^ No. 11: CF Montréal → Austin FC. December 15, 2020: Austin FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from CF Montréal and $225,000 in general allocation money in exchange for Kamal Miller.[8]
- ^ No. 15: Colorado Rapids → FC Dallas. January 13, 2021: FC Dallas acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for Michael Barrios and swapping first-round selections. The pick was Colorado's natural selection.[9]
- ^ No. 16: Portland Timbers → LA Galaxy. See No. 8: LA Galaxy → Portland Timbers → Orlando City.[7]
- ^ No. 17: New York City FC → Minnesota United. January 21, 2021: Minnesota United acquired the 17th selection from New York City FC in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money.
- ^ No. 18: Toronto FC → Minnesota United. Minnesota United acquired the 18th selection from Toronto FC in exchange for the 25th selection and $50,000 in general allocation money.
- ^ No. 19: Philadelphia Union → Orlando City. July 17, 2020: Orlando City SC acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft in exchange for the homegrown player rights to Nathan Harriel. The traded pick was Philadelphia's natural selection.[10]
- ^ No. 21: FC Dallas → Colorado Rapids → Austin FC. See No. 15: Colorado Rapids → FC Dallas. Austin FC subsequently acquired the FC Dallas selection (21st overall) from Colorado Rapids in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money.
- ^ No. 23: Sporting Kansas City → Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 14, 2018: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft in exchange for Erik Hurtado. The traded picks were Kansas City's natural selections.
- ^ No. 25: Minnesota United → Toronto FC. See No. 18: Toronto FC → Minnesota United.
- ^ No. 26: Seattle Sounders FC → Inter Miami. September 28, 2020: Inter Miami CF acquired a first-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft in exchange for Román Torres.[11]
- Round 2
- ^ No. 31: D.C. United → Atlanta United. See No. 5: Atlanta United → D.C. United.
- ^ No. 32: Atlanta United → D.C. United. See No. 5: Atlanta United → D.C. United.
- ^ No. 36: Vancouver Whitecaps FC → Nashville SC. January 21, 2021: Nashville SC traded a 2021 international spot and its second-round selection (46th overall) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for $175,000 in general allocation money and Vancouver's second-round selection (36th overall).
- ^ No. 38: CF Montréal → Minnesota United. October 1, 2020: Minnesota United FC acquired a second-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft and $600,000 in general allocation money from CF Montréal in exchange for forward Mason Toye.
- ^ No. 46: Philadelphia Union → Nashville SC → Vancouver Whitecaps FC. January 19, 2021: Nashville SC acquired second- and third-round selections in the 2021 SuperDraft and a first-round selection in the 2022 SuperDraft in exchange for up to $225,000 of general allocation money.
- ^ No. 46: Vancouver Whitecaps FC → Nashville SC. See No. 36: Nashville SC → Vancouver Whitecaps.
- ^ No. 47: Nashville → Chicago Fire. November 12, 2019: Chicago Fire FC acquired a second-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft, $50,000 in general allocation money, and $50,000 in targeted allocation money from Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Dax McCarty.[12]
- ^ No. 52: Minnesota United → Columbus Crew. February 12, 2020: Columbus Crew acquired a second-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Minnesota United FC in exchange for the MLS rights to Aaron Schoenfeld.[13]
- ^ No. 53: Seattle Sounders FC → Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 22, 2019: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired a second-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for an international roster spot for the remainder of the 2019 MLS season.[14]
- ^ No. 54: Columbus Crew → FC Cincinnati. August 17, 2020: FC Cincinnati acquired a second-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Columbus Crew in exchange for Fatai Alashe.
- Round 3
- ^ No. 58: DC United → Columbus Crew. January 8, 2021: Columbus Crew acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from D.C. United in exchange for goalkeeper Jon Kempin.[15]
- ^ No. 63: Vancouver Whitecaps FC → CF Montréal. September 28, 2020: CF Montréal acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for goalkeeper Evan Bush.[16]
- ^ No. 64: Inter Miami → Toronto FC. December 28, 2019: Toronto FC acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Inter Miami CF in exchange for the MLS rights to forward Juan Agudelo.[17]
- ^ No. 73: Philadelphia Union → Nashville SC. See No. 46: Philadelphia Union → Nashville SC → Vancouver Whitecaps.
- ^ No. 76: Orlando City → FC Dallas. February 27, 2020: FC Dallas acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Orlando City SC.[17]
- ^ No. 79: Minnesota United → FC Dallas. January 21, 2020: FC Dallas acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Minnesota United FC in exchange for midfielder Jacori Hayes.[18]
- ^ No. 81: Columbus Crew → Inter Miami → New York Red Bulls. August 14, 2020: Inter Miami CF acquired a third-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Columbus Crew SC in exchange for defender Grant Lillard.[19] On December 23, 2020, New York Red Bulls acquired this pick in exchange for Patrick Seagrist.[20]
- Compensatory picks
- ^ No. 82: Atlanta United → Sporting Kansas City. December 10, 2017: Sporting Kansas City acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft, forward Kenwyne Jones, and goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis from Atlanta United FC in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, midfielder Kévin Oliveira, and defender Tyler Pasher. The traded picks were both natural selections.[21]
- ^ No. 83: Vancouver Whitecaps FC → Inter Miami. January 29, 2020: Inter Miami CF acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for goalkeeper Bryan Meredith. The traded pick was Vancouver's natural selection.[22]
- ^ No. 84: Colorado Rapids → Real Salt Lake. February 19, 2018: Real Salt Lake acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Enzo Martínez.[23]
- ^ No. 85: New England Revolution → Inter Miami. September 8, 2020: New England Revolution reacquired midfielder Lee Nguyen from Inter Miami CF in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft and up to $50,000 in general allocation money.[24]
- ^ No. 86: Minnesota United → Nashville. September 18, 2020: Minnesota United FC acquired goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2021 SuperDraft and up to $100,000 in general allocation money if he meets certain performance-based metrics for Minnesota.[25]
Notable undrafted players
Homegrown players
| Original MLS team | Player | Position | College | Conference | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | Machop Chol | MF | Wake Forest | ACC | [26] | |
| New York City FC | Andres Jasson | FW | Yale | Ivy | [27] | |
| Columbus Crew | Isaiah Parente | MF | Wake Forest | ACC | [28] |
Players who signed outside of MLS
This is a list of eligible players who signed in leagues outside of MLS prior to the SuperDraft
| Player | Nat. | Position | College | Conference | Team | League | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francois Dulysse |  HAI | DF | Manhattan College | MAAC | New England Revolution II | USL League One | Drafted by New England Revolution | [29] |
| Mitch Guitar | USA | MF | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Indy Eleven | USL Championship | Signed for 2020 season Drafted by Chicago Fire FC | [30] |
| Sean O'Hearn | USA | DF | Georgetown | Big East | New England Revolution II | USL League One | Drafted by Minnesota United FC | [31] |
| Aedan Stanley | USA | DF | Duke | ACC | Sporting Kansas City II | USL Championship | Drafted by Austin FC | [32] |
| Alex Touche |  ENG | DF | Penn | Ivy | New Mexico United | USL Championship | Undrafted | [33] |
Other notable players
| Player | Pos | Affiliation | Played in MLS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Pulisic | GK | Duke | 2021–2022 |
Summary
Selections by college athletic conference
| Conference | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Comp. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I conferences | |||||
| ACC | 12 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| America East | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Atlantic 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Big East | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Big South | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Big Ten | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Big West | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| CAA | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Conference USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Horizon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ivy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| MAAC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mid-American | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Missouri Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pac-12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Summit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sun Belt | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NCAA Division III conference | |||||
| NESCAC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Passes | |||||
| Pass | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
Schools with multiple draft selections
| Selections | Schools |
|---|---|
| 5 | Virginia |
| 4 | Georgetown |
| 3 | Clemson, North Carolina, Ohio State, SMU, Wake Forest |
| 2 | Denver, James Madison, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, South Florida, Virginia Tech, Washington |
References
- ^ Fuhrmeister, Chris (November 15, 2019). "MLS to get rid of live SuperDraft in 2020". Pro Soccer USA. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Sigal, Jonathan (December 16, 2020). "MLS SuperDraft 2021 to have three rounds, Austin FC get first pick". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Rueter, Jeff; Stejskal, Sam (November 18, 2020). "MLS will trim 2021 SuperDraft to three rounds from four: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "Austin FC to Begin Play in MLS in 2021". Major League Soccer. January 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "Recapping the Rapids 2021 MLS SuperDraft: 12:00 PM - Rapids Acquire Third Overall Pick". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado Rapids Acquire 6th Overall Pick in 2021 MLS SuperDraft from Chicago Fire FC". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ a b "LA Galaxy acquire defender Jorge Villafaña". LA Galaxy. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "Impact acquires centre back Kamal Miller from Austin FC". CF Montréal. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ "FC Dallas Trades Michael Barrios to Colorado Rapids". FC Dallas. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "Orlando City Acquires 2021 MLS SuperDraft First Round Pick from Philadelphia Union". Orlando City SC. July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "Sounders FC acquires defender Román Torres from Inter Miami CF". Sounders FC Communications. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Fire Receives $100,000 in Allocation Money from Nashville SC for Midfielder Dax McCarty" (Press release). Chicago Fire Communications. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ "Columbus Crew SC acquires 2021 MLS SuperDraft selection in trade with Minnesota United FC" (Press release). Crew SC Communications. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ "Sounders FC acquires International Roster Slot from Vancouver" (Press release). Sounders FC Communications. August 22, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ "Columbus Crew SC acquires 2021 MLS SuperDraft selection in trade with D.C. United". Columbus Crew SC. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Columbus Crew acquire goalkeeper Evan Bush from Vancouver Whitecaps". MLS. December 14, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Toronto FC Acquires Draft Pick from Inter Miami CF" (Press release). Toronto FC Communications. December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ "MNUFC Trades For Jacori Hayes" (Press release). Minnesota United FC Communications. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ "Columbus Crew SC acquire Grant Lillard in trade from Inter Miami". MLS. August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ "Inter Miami acquire fullback Patrick Seagrist in trade with New York Red Bulls". MLS. December 23, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ "Sporting KC acquires forward Kenwyne Jones, goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis and 2021 draft pick in trade with Atlanta United FC" (Press release). Sporting Kansas City. December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC acquire experienced MLS goalkeeper Bryan Meredith via trade from Inter Miami CF" (Press release). Vancouver Whitecaps FC. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Colorado Rapids acquire midfielder Enzo Martinez from Charlotte Independence" (Press release). Colorado Rapids Media Relations. February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "New England Revolution acquire Lee Nguyen from Inter Miami". MLS. September 8, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "MNUFC Signs Adrian Zendejas". Minnesota United FC. September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Atlanta United signs Machop Chol as Homegrown Player". Atlanta United. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ Sigal, Jonathan (November 20, 2020). "Andres Jasson signs with NYCFC, departs Yale early". New England Soccer Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ Liljenwall, Ari (January 11, 2021). "Columbus Crew SC signs academy midfielder Isaiah Parente to Homegrown contract". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "Dulysse Inks Professional Contract With Revolution II". Manhattan Jaspers. December 9, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Indy Eleven Makes Pair of Moves at USL Championship's Roster Deadline". Indy Eleven. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Lancaster County native Sean O'Hearn signs with New England Revolution II". Brotherly Game. December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Sporting Kansas City II adds U.S. youth international Aedan Stanley". Sporting Kansas City. January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Staff, New Mexico United (January 12, 2021). "NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF ALBUQUERQUE NATIVE ALEX TOUCHE". New Mexico United.
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