On Wednesday, Major League Soccer announced the total amounts of General Allocation Money (GAM) available to each club. These snapshots are taken before roster compliance, meaning that clubs will still need to use some of their GAM to buy down budget charges and become cap compliant.
What is GAM?
As a refresher on what GAM is, here's the league's explanation:
In addition to the Salary Budget and the six prime roster spots that feature unlimited spending on up to three Designated Players and up to four U22 Initiative Spots, General Allocation Money can be used to sign or retain top talent.
Along with the annual allotment of $3.28 million GAM provided to each team in 2026, clubs can acquire GAM in the following ways.
• Up to $3 million from eligible transfer revenue converted to GAM.
• Via trade with another MLS club.
• Qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
• Failing to qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
• The 2025 third Designated Player charge distribution.
Clubs can also receive up to an additional $2 million in 2026 GAM along with a fourth U22 Initiative Roster Spot if they select the U22 Initiative Roster Construction Path. Roster Construction Path decisions must be submitted to MLS prior to the 2026 Roster Compliance Date and only after that date will a club receive the additional 2026 GAM.
That's a lot to unpack. We'll eventually do a series on MLS roster building to explain this in more depth, but for now, think of MLS like a game with a hard budget cap. Every team has the same allowance. GAM is bonus money that lets the team stretch – even bend – their budget, but in league-approved ways. GAM lets a team:
- Pay players more than the normal salary cap allows
- Reduce (“buy down”) a player’s salary cap hit
- Trade to other teams to acquire players or other assets.
GAM doesn't go into players' pockets. It's not real-world money. It's simply a cap management tool. So when considering the amount of GAM that Nashville have, their GAM total is not the total amount they can invest in their roster. Rather, it's the resources they have available to stretch and extend their cap.
Teams that have stockpiles of GAM are generally more equipped to react to injuries, schedule congestion, team needs, or market opportunities. Clubs with less GAM are typically locked into their current roster, with less opportunity for change.
Notably, GAM no longer expires. Previously, GAM had a shelf life, and if it wasn't used within a certain time period, it would simply disappear. Starting in the 2025 season, though, GAM can be stockpiled without restriction, with the exception of the GAM teams receive from switching to the U22 Initiative model (or "2+4+2 model"), which must be used during that season.
It's also notable that these numbers do not reflect the roster construction models. Every team on this list that elects to use the 2+4+2 model will receive an additional $2 million in GAM after the roster compliance deadline (the day before the league begins games).
GAM available by club
The following totals are accurate as of January 20, 2026.
What does this mean for Nashville SC?
Overall, Nashville have the 23rd-most GAM in MLS. Or the seventh-least, depending on how you prefer to view things. Keeping in mind that these totals are taken before roster compliance, Nashville will need to use some of this GAM to buy down players.
In 2025, Nashville spent almost $1.8 million to buy down the budget charges of Jack Maher, Gastón Brugman, and Tyler Boyd, all of whom were paid above the 2025 max budget charge of $743,750, but weren't Designated Players. With Brugman and Boyd gone, Nashville will save significant GAM becoming compliant, with Maher's buy-down costs estimated at around $152,000.
SixOneFive Soccer estimates Nashville to have roughly $1.5 million in GAM left over after roster compliance. This includes the $1 million they received from LAFC for Jacob Shaffelburg (with only $500k hitting in 2026 and the remainder arriving in 2027).
It's important to note that estimates can vary significantly, especially upon the release of the MLS Players Association salary data later this spring. It also doesn't include the potential of buying down players below the maximum budget charge — for instance, some teams could buy the budget charge of their Designated Players down to $150,000, instead of the 2026 maximum budget charge of $803,125. There are a lot of variables that we simply don't know, and won't until the league releases its roster-building snapshots after roster compliance.
According to Arman Kafai, who runs the incredibly helpful Footy Analytics Musings substack, Nashville have the 11th-most roster-building space out of the 16 teams projected to be using the 3 DP model, and the 23rd-most roster-building space overall in MLS.
"They'll have room," he said when asked if Nashville have space to make roster moves. "Austin had less GAM last year and they were able to operate... kind of. But it will be limited. Don't expect major changes."
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Nashville still have several spots open on the senior roster and need to add depth in both midfield and fullback. They likely can't make earth-changing improvements, but they do have some room. Whether they opt to make those moves now or live with what they have until the summer transfer window remains to be seen.
