The 2016 MLS Expansion Draft was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion teams Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC. Atlanta United was selected to pick first by an "Expansion Priority Draft" conducted on October 16, 2016. Protected rosters are based on an MLS release from December 12, 2016.
Format These are the rules for the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft as laid out by Major League Soccer.
Existing teams are allowed to protect 11 players from their Senior, Supplemental and Reserve Roster. Generation Adidas players and Homegrown Players on supplemental rosters are automatically protected and exempt from the expansion draft. Though players who graduated from the Generation Adidas program to the senior roster at the end of the 2016 season are not exempt. Only one player may be claimed from each club's non-protected roster, that team is then eliminated from the expansion draft and not allowed to lose any further players The expansion draft will last 5 rounds totaling 10 players to be drafted.
Expansion Draft order PickMLS TeamPlayerPrevious TeamTrade Notes1Atlanta United FC Donny Toia Montreal Impact Traded to Orlando City SC on December 13, 2016.2Minnesota United FC Chris Duvall New York Red Bulls Traded to Montreal Impact on December 13, 2016.3Atlanta United FC Zach Loyd FC Dallas4Minnesota United FC Collen Warner Houston Dynamo5Atlanta United FC Clint Irwin Toronto FC Traded back to Toronto FC on December 13, 2016.6Minnesota United FC Mohammed Saeid Columbus Crew SC Traded to Colorado Rapids on March 31, 2017.7Atlanta United FC Mikey Ambrose Orlando City SC8Minnesota United FC Jeff Attinella Real Salt Lake Traded to Portland Timbers on December 20, 2016.9Atlanta United FC Alec Kann Sporting Kansas City10Minnesota United FC Femi Hollinger-Janzen New England RevolutionTraded back to New England Revolution on February 15, 2017.
Affected Post-Draft Trades Minnesota United FC traded Chris Duvall to Montreal Impact for Johan Venegas and allocation money. Atlanta United FC traded Donny Toia to Orlando City SC for the #8 pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Atlanta United FC returned Clint Irwin to Toronto FC for Mark Bloom and allocation money. Minnesota United FC traded Jeff Attinella to Portland Timbers FC for their natural Second Round Pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and the MLS Rights to Miguel Ibarra. Minnesota United FC returned Femi Hollinger-Janzen to the New England Revolution for Bobby Shuttleworth. Minnesota United FC traded Saeid to Colorado Rapids.
Team-by-team-breakdown
Legend Selected by Atlanta Selected by Minnesota United FC
Chicago Fire
Exposed Protected ExemptDavid Arshakyan (INTL)David Accam (DP)Joey Calistri (HGP)Răzvan CocișArturo ÁlvarezDrew Conner (HGP)Eric GehrigJonathan CampbellPatrick Doody (HGP)Michael HarringtonMichael de Leeuw (INTL)Collin Fernandez (HGP)Nick LaBroccaJohn Goossens (INTL)Patrick McLainJohan Kappelhof (INTL)Alex MorrellMatt LampsonRodrigo Ramos (On loan from Coritiba) (INTL)João Meira (INTL)Michael StephensMatt PolsterKhaly Thiam (On loan from MTK Budapest) (INTL)Luis Solignac Brandon Vincent
Colorado Rapids
Exposed Protected ExemptJohn Berner Micheal AziraCaleb Calvert (HGP)Marc BurchDominique Badji (INTL)Zach Pfeffer (HGP)Bobby BurlingSam CroninDillon Serna (HGP)Dennis Castillo (INTL)Kevin Doyle (DP) (INTL) Conor DoyleShkëlzen Gashi (DP) (INTL)Jermaine JonesMarlon HairstonSébastien Le TouxTim Howard (DP)Marco PappaZac MacMathJuan Ramírez (INTL)Eric MillerSean St Ledger (INTL)Dillon PowersJared WattsAxel Sjöberg (INTL)Mekeil Williams (INTL)
Columbus Crew SC
Exposed Protected ExemptCorey AsheHarrison Afful (INTL)Chad Barson (HGP)Steve ClarkEthan FinlayBen Swanson (HGP)Dilly DukaFederico Higuaín (DP)Waylon FrancisAdam JahnMarshall HollingsworthHector JiménezCedrick Mabwati (INTL)Ola Kamara (INTL)Cristian Martínez (On loan from Chorrillo F.C.) (INTL)Justin MeramMatt PacificiNicolai Næss (INTL)Mohammed Saeid (INTL)Zack SteffenRodrigo Saravia (INTL)Tony TchaniGastón Sauro (INTL)Wil Trapp (HGP)Brad Stuver Tyson Wahl
D.C. United
Exposed Protected ExemptBobby BoswellLuciano Acosta (on loan from Boca Juniors) (INTL)Julian Büscher (GA) (INTL)Andrew DykstraSteve BirnbaumChris Durkin (HGP)Sean FranklinNick DeLeonCollin Martin (HGP)Charlie HortonBill Hamid (HGP)Jalen Robinson (HGP)Jared JeffreyTaylor KempAlhaji Kamara (INTL)Patrick MullinsChris KorbLamar NeagleLuke MishuPatrick NyarkoKofi OpareLloyd SamChris RolfeMarcelo SarvasAlvaro SaborioRob VincentTravis Worra
FC Dallas
Exposed Protected ExemptColin BonnerKellyn Acosta (HGP)Fabián Castillo (DP)Aubrey David (on loan from Saprissa) (INTL)Tesho AkindeleCoy Craft (HGP)Getterson (on loan from J. Malucelli) (INTL)Michael Barrios (INTL)Jesse Gonzalez (HGP)Atiba HarrisMauro Díaz (DP)Aaron Guillen (HGP)Ryan HermanMaynor Figueroa (INTL)Paxton Pomykal (HGP)Moises HernandezCarlos Gruezo (DP) (INTL)Carlos Lizarazo (on loan from Cruz Azul) (INTL)Matt HedgesZach LoydRyan HollingsheadJuan Esteban Ortiz (INTL)Victor Ulloa (HGP)Norberto PaparattoMaximiliano UrrutiTimo Pitter (INTL)Walker ZimmermanMauro Rosales Carlos Ruiz Chris Seitz
Houston Dynamo
Exposed Protected ExemptAgus (INTL)AlexTyler Deric (HGP)Yair Arboleda (On loan from Santa Fe) (INTL)Eric AlexanderSebastien Ibeagha (HGP)DaMarcus Beasley (DP)Jalil AnibabaChristian Lucatero (HGP)Calle BrownWill BruinKeyner Brown (On loan from C.S. Herediano) (INTL)Ricardo ClarkKevin GarciaJosé Escalante (On loan from Olimpia) (INTL)David HorstBoniek GarcíaRob LovejoyMauro Manotas (DP) (INTL)Cristian Maidana (INTL)Erick Torres (DP) (INTL)Abdoulie MansallyAndrew WengerRaúl RodríguezJoe WillisZach Steinberger Collen Warner Sheanon Williams
LA Galaxy
Exposed Protected ExemptMiguel Aguilar (INTL)Emmanuel Boateng (INTL)Bradford Jamieson IV (HGP)Landon DonovanAshley Cole (INTL)Jack McBean (HGP)Rafael GarciaA. J. DeLaGarzaRaúl Mendiola (HGP) (INTL)Steven Gerrard (DP) (INTL)Clément Diop (INTL)Oscar Sorto (HGP)Alan GordonGiovani dos Santos (DP) (INTL)Jose Villarreal (HGP)Baggio HušidićSebastian LletgetRobbie Keane (DP)Robbie RogersDan KennedyBrian RoweJeff LarentowiczDaniel SteresAriel LassiterJelle Van Damme (INTL)LeonardoGyasi Zardes (HGP)Mike Magee David Romney
Montreal Impact
Exposed Protected ExemptKyle BekkerHernán Bernardello (INTL)Louis Béland-Goyette (HGP)Patrice BernierEvan BushDavid Choinière (HGP)Amadou DiaVictor Cabrera (INTL)Maxime Crépeau (HGP)Didier Drogba (DP) (INTL)Hassoun CamaraJérémy Gagnon-Laparé (HGP)Kyle FisherLaurent Ciman (INTL)Anthony Jackson-Hamel (HGP)Eric KronbergMarco Donadel (INTL)Wandrille Lefèvre (HGP)Calum MallaceMatteo Mancosu (On loan from Bologna) (INTL)Dominic OduroAmbroise Oyongo (INTL)Lucas Ontivero (On loan from Galatasaray) (DP) (INTL)Ignacio Piatti (DP) (INTL)Michael SalazarAndrés RomeroHarry ShippJohan Venegas (INTL)Donny Toia
New England Revolution
Exposed Protected ExemptDarrius BarnesJuan AgudeloScott Caldwell (HGP)José Gonçalves (DP) (INTL)Teal BunburyZachary Herivaux (HGP)Femi Hollinger-JanzenCody CropperBrad KnightonDiego FagúndezDaigo KobayashiAndrew FarrellJordan McCraryKei Kamara (DP)Steve NeumannGershon Koffie (INTL)Bobby ShuttleworthXavier Kouassi (DP) (INTL)Donnie SmithLee NguyenMatt TurnerKelyn RoweJe-Vaughn WatsonChris TierneyLondon Woodberry
New York City FC
Exposed Protected ExemptConnor BrandtR. J. AllenJack Harrison (GA) (INTL)Federico Bravo (on loan from Boca Juniors) (INTL)Frederic Brillant (INTL) Shannon Gomez (on loan from W Connection)Maxime Chanot (INTL)Jason HernandezMix DiskerudEirik Johansen (INTL)Sean JohnsonFrank Lampard (DP) (INTL)Mikey LopezDiego Martínez (INTL)Ronald Matarrita (INTL)Jefferson Mena (INTL)Thomas McNamaraStiven Mendoza (on loan from Corinthians) (INTL)Andrea Pirlo (DP) (INTL)Andre RawlsKhiry SheltonJosh SaundersDavid Villa (DP) (INTL)Tony Taylor Ethan White
New York Red Bulls
Exposed Protected ExemptAnatole Abang (INTL)Aurélien Collin (INTL)Tyler Adams (HGP)Gideon Baah (INTL)Felipe (INTL)Brandon Allen (HGP)Justin BilyeuMike GrellaSean Davis (HGP)Omer Damari (DP) (INTL)Sacha Kljestan (DP)Derrick Etienne (HGP)Chris DuvallKemar Lawrence (INTL)Connor Lade (HGP)Aaron LongDax McCartyAlex Muyl (HGP)Karl OuimetteRyan MearaDamien Perrinelle (INTL)Luis RoblesKyle ReynishDaniel Royer (INTL)Shaun Wright-PhillipsGonzalo Verón (DP) (INTL)Sal ZizzoBradley Wright-Phillips (INTL)Ronald Zubar (INTL)
Orlando City SC
Exposed Protected ExemptKevin AlstonJosé Aja (On loan from Nacional) (INTL)Conor Donovan (GA)Mikey AmbroseJoe BendikRichie Laryea (GA) (INTL)Júlio Baptista (INTL)Cristian HiguitaTommy Redding (HGP)Hadji BarryKaká (DP) (INTL)Mason Stajduhar (HGP)Luke BodenCyle LarinTyler Turner (HGP)Servando CarrascoKevin MolinoEarl Edwards Jr.Antonio Nocerino (INTL)Devron García (INTL)Matías Pérez García (DP) (INTL)Seb HinesRafael Ramos (INTL)David Mateos (INTL)Carlos Rivas (DP)Pedro RibeiroBrek SheaTony Rocha Bryan Róchez (DP) (INTL)
Philadelphia Union
Exposed Protected ExemptTranquillo Barnetta (INTL)Roland Alberg (INTL)Fabian Herbers (GA) (INTL)Brian CarrollEric Ayuk (INTL)Derrick Jones (HGP)Anderson Conceição (On loan from Tombense) (INTL)Alejandro Bedoya (DP)Auston Trusty (HGP)Charlie DaviesAndre BlakeJosh Yaro (GA) (INTL)Maurice Edu (DP)Warren CreavalleLeo FernandesFabinhoRay GaddisRichie MarquezMatt Jones (On loan from Belenenses)Ilsinho (INTL)John McCarthyChris PontiusCole MissimoKeegan RosenberryWálter RestrepoC. J. SapongKen Tribbett Taylor Washington
Portland Timbers
Exposed Protected ExemptDairon AsprillaFanendo Adi (INTL)Ned GrabavoyJack Barmby (On loan from Leicester City F.C.) (INTL)Vytautas Andriuškevičius (INTL)Jack JewsburyNick BeslerGbenga Arokoyo (INTL)Nat BorchersDiego CharáNeco Brett (INTL)Jake GleesonWade HamiltonDarren MattocksKennedy Igboananike (INTL)Lucas Melano (DP) (INTL)Chris KluteDarlington NagbeChris KonopkaAlvas PowellJack McInerneyLiam RidgewellAmobi OkugoDiego Valeri (DP)Taylor Peay Ben Polk Jermaine Taylor Steven Taylor (INTL) Andy Thoma Zarek Valentin Ben Zemanski
Real Salt Lake
Exposed Protected ExemptJeff AttinellaKyle BeckermanDanilo Acosta (HGP)Pedro Báez (INTL)Tony BeltranJordan Allen (HGP)Olmes GarcíaJuan Manuel Martínez (DP) (INTL)Lalo Fernandez (HGP)Javier MoralesAaron MaundJusten Glad (HGP)Boyd OkwuonuYura Movsisyan (DP)Omar Holness (GA) (INTL)Jámison OlaveLuke MulhollandPhanuel Kavita (HGP)Devon SandovalStephen Sunday (INTL)Sebastian Saucedo (GA)John StertzerDemar Phillips (INTL)Ricardo Velazco (HGP)Emery Welshman (INTL)Joao Plata (DP)Chris WingertNick Rimando Chris Schuler
San Jose Earthquakes
Exposed Protected ExemptQuincy AmarikwaFatai AlasheAndrew Tarbell (GA)Leandro Barrera (INTL)Víctor BernárdezTommy Thompson (HGP)Chad BarrettDavid BinghamKip ColveyCordell CatoInnocent Emeghara (DP) (INTL)Darwin CerénShaun FrancisSimon Dawkins (DP) (INTL)Henok Goitom (INTL)Anibal Godoy (INTL)Clarence GoodsonAndrés Imperiale (INTL)Steven LenhartShea SalinasBryan MeredithKofi SarkodieMarc PelosiChris WondolowskiAlberto Quintero (INTL) Mark Sherrod Matheus Silva (INTL) Jordan Stewart Marvell Wynne
Seattle Sounders FC
Exposed Protected ExemptOalex Anderson (INTL)Tony AlfaroDarwin Jones (HGP)Michael FarfanOsvaldo AlonsoAaron Kovar (HGP)Álvaro Fernández (INTL)Clint Dempsey (DP)Victor Mansaray (HGP)Oniel Fisher (INTL)Brad EvansJordan Morris (HGP)Erik Friberg (INTL)Stefan FreiZach ScottHerculez GomezJoevin Jones (INTL)Andreas Ivanschitz (INTL)Nicolás Lodeiro (DP) (INTL)Damion LoweChad MarshallCharlie LyonTyler MillerTyrone MearsCristian RoldanJimmy OckfordRomán Torres (INTL)Dylan Remick Nathan Sturgis Nelson Valdez (DP) (INTL)
Sporting Kansas City