San Diego picked several young players and acquired up to $650,000 in GAM funds after two trades, including sending Thiago Andrade to Toronto FC
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SDFC add some depth pieces in expansion draftAdd significant GAM fundsFocus shifts to next week's SuperDraft, where they own No. 1 pickGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Incoming Major League Soccer franchise added five more players to their roster and also secured assets to potentially add bigger pieces in the 2024 Expansion Draft Wednesday night.
San Diego drafted Orlando City midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth, Charlotte FC defender Hamady Diop and Colorado Rapids fullback/midfielder Jasper Löffelsend for its roster.
It also selected two players which it will immediately trade for General Allocation Money (GAM). SDFC selected St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Hosei Kijima during the draft and sent him to D.C. United in exchange for $400,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM).
They also picked New York City FC forward Thiago Andrade, who has been on loan to both Athletico Paranaense and Shenzhen Peng City F.C. the past two seasons, and traded him to Toronto FC for the team's first round pick in the upcoming 2025 MLS SuperDraft and up to $250,000 in GAM funds.
San Diego will also get a sell-on clause if Andrade is sold out of MLS.
AdvertisementSan Diego FCTHE BIGGER PICTURE
It's a largely conservative draft for SDFC, taking on fliers on players who have either served as depth pieces on their previous clubs and haven't been used at all – as Bruseth has yet to make an appearance in MLS despite being in the league since August 2024.
Diop came into MLS with a lot of promise as the No. 1 pick of Charlotte in 2023. He made just three appearances and has been on loan with Serbian side FK Čukarički. Löffelsend was a strong role player with Real Salt Lake in his first three years in MLS, but struggled to find footing with the Rapids last season.
All players could potentially find a role in Mikey Varas' side, but considering the names that were available, questions will be asked if San Diego struggles in its first season.
On a positive, SDFC added up to $650,000 in GAM funds, which could be key in buying down players on larger contracts or acquiring a strong player in the league among other uses.
WHAT SAN DIEGO FC SAID
“We are thrilled to add three more exciting players to our squad as we continue to build our inaugural season roster,” Sporting Director Tyler Heaps said in a statement. “We believe that the players we selected all fit into our identity and style of play. We are also confident that the trades we made will provide the necessary resources for us to make additional moves within the league in the coming days. We look forward to welcoming Heine, Hamady and Jasper to San Diego FC.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Bruseth is a Norwegian youth international who was highly-regarded enough by Orlando that the club made him a U22 initiative signing with his contract having options through the 2028 season.
