Justin Mapp made history on Monday as the first MLS player to sign in free agency. The former Montreal Impact winger was considered one of the top players available, and chose to continue his career with Sporting Kansas City, according to Kyle McCarthy.
Under the new MLS collective bargaining agreement that was ratified in July, players such as Mapp are now able to choose their team if they are not currently under contract. Mapp was in total control of his soccer career, when the free agency period started last week.
"It all happened pretty quickly, but the process has been new for all of us, so we weren't exactly sure how it all would work. But we made it happen," Mapp told MLS Soccer.
Mapp, 31, played his first MLS season with D.C. United in 2002 and spent time with Chicago, Philadelphia, and most recently Montreal where he helped the Impact win back-to-back Canadian Cup titles. Mapp's MLS experience makes him a good candidate to test the free agent water.
"Players who have played in this league a long time and have seen and helped the league grow deserve these opportunities," he said.
Mapp, who has 23 goals and 70 assists in 303 MLS appearances, might not be the only addition Sporting KC makes this off season as manager Peter Vermes hinted to MLS Soccer.
"Technically speaking, the rules are that we can only go after one more, from what I understand," he said. "So, are we? Maybe. We're always going to keep our options open."
In addition to free agency, the MLS announced that teams are able to spend up to $800,000 per year on non-designated players with what the league calls Targeted Allocation Money. The MLS is hoping that TAM and free agency will increase the level of talent in the league.
One note stemming from Mapp signing and confirmed elsewhere: #MLS teams are limited to two signings from free agent pool.
— Kyle McCarthy (@kylejmccarthy) December 14, 2015
