Major League Soccer (MLS) has released its 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) figures, giving fans and analysts insight into how much flexibility each club has heading into roster moves. GAM is a critical financial mechanism in MLS, allowing clubs to sign, trade, or retain players while staying compliant with league salary rules.
Below, we’ll break down the 2025 GAM by club, highlight the biggest winners, and explain what the allocation rules mean for roster construction in the upcoming season.
What Is General Allocation Money in MLS?
General Allocation Money (GAM) is essentially a budget tool MLS teams use to reduce salary cap hits or acquire new talent. Clubs can spend GAM to:
- Buy down player salaries to fit under the cap.
- Offset transfer or loan fees.
- Sign new players to strengthen rosters.
- Trade with other MLS clubs for players or draft picks.
For 2025, MLS clarified that GAM tied to the U22 Initiative Player Model must be used in the same season. However, unused GAM outside that rule will roll over into 2026.
2025 MLS General Allocation Money by Club
Here’s the full breakdown of how much GAM each MLS club has for the 2025 season (as of Sept. 18, 2025):
| Club | 2025 GAM |
|---|---|
| Atlanta United | $136,967 |
| Austin FC | $464,636 |
| Charlotte FC | $1,742,951 |
| Chicago Fire FC | $11,689 |
| FC Cincinnati | $0 |
| Colorado Rapids | $2,033,775 |
| Columbus Crew | $1,990,355 |
| FC Dallas | $1,140,345 |
| D.C. United | $718,569 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | $2,931,725 |
| Sporting Kansas City | $1,010,415 |
| LAFC | $2,000,577 |
| LA Galaxy | $120,580 |
| Inter Miami CF | $2,135,713 |
| Minnesota United FC | $4,947,077 |
| CF Montréal | $1,646,143 |
| Nashville SC | $516,624 |
| New England Revolution | $286,754 |
| New York City FC | $2,422,943 |
| New York Red Bulls | $159,900 |
| Orlando City SC | $622,039 |
| Philadelphia Union | $1,100,612 |
| Portland Timbers | $0 |
| Real Salt Lake | $2,118,688 |
| San Diego FC | $3,424,625 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | $1,448,024 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $1,146,425 |
| St. Louis City SC | $2,435,816 |
| Toronto FC | $1,332,840 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $1,648,728 |
Biggest Winners in 2025 GAM
- Minnesota United FC leads the league with $4.95 million in GAM, giving them enormous flexibility to strengthen their squad.
- San Diego FC, MLS’s newest expansion club, enters with $3.42 million, setting them up to build competitively from day one.
- Houston Dynamo FC ($2.93M) and Inter Miami CF ($2.13M) also rank among the highest, positioning themselves to make major signings.
On the opposite end, FC Cincinnati and Portland Timbers have no GAM remaining, while Chicago Fire FC has just $11,689, severely limiting their options unless they trade for more GAM.
Key Notes for 2025 Roster Construction
According to MLS:
- No expiration: GAM no longer expires, except for funds tied to the U22 Initiative.
- Roster Freeze: GAM for U22 players must be spent before the roster freeze (Sept. 12, 2025).
- Midseason Updates: Clubs could update roster models between July 1 and Aug. 21, 2025.
- Switching Player Models:
- U22 → Designated Player: Must use $1M+ GAM and carry no more than 3 U22 players.
- Designated Player → U22: May invest up to $1M GAM and carry no more than 2 DPs.
Why GAM Matters for 2025
With the league becoming increasingly competitive, GAM is often the difference between landing a key international signing or losing out due to salary restrictions. Expect teams like Minnesota, San Diego, Houston, and Inter Miami to be aggressive in the market, while clubs with little flexibility (Cincinnati, Portland, Chicago) may need to rely on internal development or trades.
Final Take
The release of 2025 MLS General Allocation Money figures gives fans and insiders a clear look at how prepared each club is to improve rosters before the 2026 season. With some clubs holding millions in GAM and others nearly tapped out, the next transfer windows promise to reshape the competitive balance of Major League Soccer.