NWSL expansion sides Columbus NWSL and Atlanta City FC can start signing players as early as 2027, the league announced Friday. The league's two newest clubs teams each received $1.43 million in allocation money and a $1.9 million transfer-fee threshold — nearly triple what existing teams get — ahead of their planned 2028 debuts.
New Roster-Building Rules Give Expansion Clubs Room to Grow
Under the new framework, each club operates with a 2027 salary cap of $628,320.
Players signed during that window can be loaned to other teams, with the expansion club retaining up to 25% of the cap charge. However, neither side can tap into the league's new High Impact Player mechanism until January 2028.
The financial commitment behind both franchises underscores how fast the US women's soccer league has grown.
Arthur Blank shelled out $165 million, a league high at the time, for Atlanta's 17th franchise in November 2025. Just months later, Haslam Sports Group pushed the price to $205 million for Columbus. Sportico now pegs the average NWSL franchise value at $184 million.
Still, money alone won't fill a roster.
After the 2024 CBA eliminated the college draft and removed individual salary caps, both NWSL expansion teams must go head-to-head with incumbent clubs and international sides for every signing. This week's roster-building guidelines aim to give them a head start.
