Hoping to spark interest by adding high-priced stars, Major League Soccer will allow each team to sign at least two ``designated players'' whose salaries can significantly exceed the salary budget.
Barcelona's Thierry Henry and Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez, who both have seen dwindling playing time this season, are among the players MLS is thought to be interested in adding during the summer transfer window, possibly for the New York Red Bulls.
``In some markets, star power is critical in terms of driving attendance,'' Todd Durbin, the league's executive vice president of player relations, said Thursday.
While MLS wants to add stars, in the past it has waited until a player's contract has expired rather than pay a transfer fee for a DP.
The league first allowed each team one budget exception in November 2006, commonly referred to as the Beckham Rule, and said a team could trade for a second slot.
Under the change, each team is allowed two DPS and may purchase a third slot from the league for $250,000. The slots no longer may be traded.
A designated player will count for $335,000 against each team's budget, about 13 percent, down from $415,000, or 18 percent. The league last week increased each team's player salary budget from $2,315,000 to $2.55 million.
The budget line for a DP will be cut to $167,500 if he joins midseason.
MLS began the season with five designated players: Los Angeles' David Beckham, New York's Juan Pablo Angel, Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg, Houston's Luis Angel Landin and Toronto's Julian de Guzman. In addition, Landon Donovan of the Galaxy was made a DP under Thursday's rule change.
Beckham's $32.5 million, five-year contract is vastly higher than all others in the league.
``The more designated players we have, the greater the quality of the league we're going to have,'' Durbin said.
Past DPs included Dallas' Denilson, D.C. United's Luciano Emilio and Marcelo Gallardo, Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Kansas City's Claudio Lopez, New York's Claudio Reyna and Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who remains with the Crew but no longer is a DP.
``I know Freddie would love to have other players potentially from Europe out there with him,'' Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said. ``I think all of our guys would love the opportunity to continue to play with better and better teammates.''
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AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.
