Major League Soccer Reaches a Deal With Its Players

Major League Soccer and its players have reached an agreement in principle on a five-year collective bargaining agreement, the league announced on Thursday.

The limit on spending on the bulk of players would rise to $11.6 million per team over the course of the deal, compared with $8.5 million in the last deal. This amount does not include money spent on three higher-paid star players and certain highly touted younger players.

The minimum salary for active senior players, which has often been criticized as low for professional sports, will rise to $109,200 by 2024. It was $70,250 last season.

Free-agency rules will be loosened significantly: Under current rules, a player has to be 28 and have eight years of experience to qualify. Under the new deal, 24-year-old players with five years of service will qualify.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/sports/soccer/major-league-soccer-reaches-a-deal-with-its-players.html?emc=rss&partner=rss