SDFC's 2024 MLS Expansion Draft selections and trades

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego FC finished their 2024 MLS Expansion Draft with three out of the five selections joining the club.

The Dec. 11 event saw San Diego select Orlando City midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth, Charlotte FC defender Hamady Diop and Colorado Rapids fullback/midfielder Jasper Löffelsend to join their current roster. 

St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Hosei Kijima and New York City FC forward Thiago Andrade were also selected but traded away during the draft. 

Kijima traded to D.C. United in exchange for $400,000 in 2025 general allocation money.

Andrade traded to Toronto FC in exchange for $250,000 in conditional general allocated money and their first-round pick in MLS SuperDraft 2025. Also included in the trade, SDFC holds a percentage of a future transfer fee for Andrade if Toronto sells the player outside of the MLS.

General allocated money or GAM can be used for signing or re-signing players, paying for transfer fees or used in trades between Major League Soccer clubs. 

The 20-year-old Norwegian youth international Heine Gikling Bruseth joined Orlando City but is yet to debut in the MLS after his August move from Norwegian side Kristiansund BK. 

The No.1 overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC is 22-year-old Hamady Diop. Senegalese-born Diop is currently loaned out to Serbian side FK Čukarički after playing in four matches for Charlotte.   

Jasper Löffelsend has spent three seasons in Major League Soccer playing for Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids. The 27-year-old German has 69 games played under his belt in the MLS. 

The current roster including the three expansion draft selections:

Tomás Ángel, Heine Gikling Bruseth, Hamady Diop, Duran Ferree, Marcus Ingvartsen, Jasper Löffelsend, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Paddy McNair, Christopher McVey, Alex Mighten, CJ dos Santos and Jeppe Tverskov.

SDFC ended their expansion draft with 12 players on the roster as free agency opening up on Thursday, Dec 12 gives the club opportunities for additions. 

An MLS active roster can have up to 30 players with 20 senior roster spots being available.

The senior roster counts toward the club’s salary budget as the remaining 10 available spots are known as Supplemental. These non-contributing to salary budget roster spots are usually for depth pieces in youth or veteran players.

As part of the Thiago Andrade, SDFC obtained the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. 

With San Diego FC also holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Dec. 20 and the winter international transfer window opening up in January, they look to continue bolstering their squad for the upcoming 2025 MLS season kick-starting in February.