D.C. United has announced its list of protected players for the upcoming MLS expansion draft, which will see newcomers Charlotte FC further stock their roster. The expansion draft is on Thursday, December 14, at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on MLSsoccer.com and on the MLS app.
This year’s expansion draft rules allow a 12-player protected list for each team, plus an exemption for all players currently on homegrown contracts. Charlotte has five selections, and can pick one player per team. The five teams that lost players to Austin FC in this same process last year — LA Galaxy, Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, and San Jose Earthquakes — are exempt.