What are MLS Discovery Rights? The rule impacting Müller and Reus transfers

With another high-profile free agent move to the MLS influenced by the so-called Discovery Rights, let us explain the story behind the rule that many fans outside of North America might find confusing.

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller is moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps as a free agent, but the Canadian club will still pay a fee for his services; they will send about 400 thousand dollars to FC Cincinnati for his Discovery Rights.

Discovery or reservation?

The name of this clause is a bit misleading. Of course Cincinnati didn't "discover" Thomas Muller, he's been a global star for about fifteen years. In fact, he was a World Cup winner before the franchise was even founded!

In a less nicely sounding way, these are "reservations" of players, a first right to negotiate if you will.

Each MLS franchise has a list of up to five footballers who play outside of the MLS that they would theoretically like to bring in as Designated Players. Those are basically superstars paid better than anyone else, whose salaries don't count towards the team's salary cap. Lionel Messi is perhaps the best current example, but there is a reason why the Designated Player exception is nicknamed "The Beckham Rule".

If a chance arises to bring one of these stars to the league, the club with the Discovery Rights will have the first option to negotiate with them. If the player declines but chooses to move to a different MLS club, his new employer has to provide compensation to the original holder of the rights (also called Discovery Priority on occasion).

Such was the case with another high-profile player from Germany, Marco Reus. The Borussia Dortmund icon plays for LA Galaxy, but the Californian club had to pay 400 thousand dollars to Charlotte FC, who held his Discovery Rights - the same amount the Whitecaps will now send to Cincinnati for Muller.

Draft similarities

While bizarre at first sight for many fans unfamiliar with the MLS, the rule has been used multiple times and actually isn't totally uncommon.

The KHL, the international but mostly Russian hockey league, has drafted multiple NHL superstars over the years who will most likely never play there, just to get the rights to negotiate with them, just in case.

For example, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid - the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft- was also drafted by Medvescak Zagreb, the KHL's Croatian outfit. A year earlier, no less, though all the way down at 77th.

Unlike the MLS Discovery Rights rule, this option for first negotiation will most likely never be used. First of all, Medvescak doesn't even play in the KHL anymore, moving to a competition for Balkan ice hockey teams in 2017. And most importantly, even if you were to put the current world situation aside, one of the best ice hockey players in recent history is not leaving the NHL, probably ever.