2020 MLS expansion draft

The 2020 MLS Expansion Draft was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Austin FC that was held on December 15, 2020. The list of players available for selection was released on December 14, 2020.

Format

Teams who had players selected in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft are exempt. These teams were Atlanta United FC, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United FC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC, and Sporting Kansas City. All other teams returning from the 2020 season were subject to the draft. These teams had 12 protection slots that they could apply to any draft eligible player on their senior, supplemental, and reserve rosters. Players who have not graduated from Generation Adidas, and homegrown players age 25 and under as of the end of the 2020 season were not eligible for the draft. Players with contracts expiring at the end of the season, designated players, and players with no-trade clauses were part of a team's roster and were eligible for the draft. In the case of player's with no-trade clauses, a team had to use one of their protection slots for that player. If a team had a players selected in the draft, that team became exempt from any further picks in the draft. The expansion team, Austin FC was given 5 picks for the draft.