San Diego FC Makes Key Selections in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft

San Diego FC has made significant strides in building their inaugural roster by selecting five players in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft held on Wednesday, December 11. The draft allowed San Diego FC to choose from a pool of over 350 players left unprotected by existing MLS teams, each of which could only protect 12 players from their rosters.

The players selected by San Diego FC include Heine Gikling Bruseth, a midfielder from Orlando City SC; Jasper Löffelsend, a midfielder from Colorado Rapids; Hamady Diop, a defender from Charlotte FC; Thiago Andrade, a forward from Toronto FC; and Hosei Kijima, a midfielder from St. Louis CITY SC. Of these selections, three players—Bruseth, Löffelsend, and Diop—are set to remain with San Diego FC, while Andrade and Kijima were traded for valuable assets.

Heine Gikling Bruseth, a 20-year-old Norwegian youth international, joins San Diego FC from Orlando City SC and occupies a U22 Initiative roster slot. He has yet to play an MLS match but brings promising potential. Jasper Löffelsend, with three seasons of MLS experience, has played for both Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake, contributing 2 goals and 8 assists in 69 matches. Hamady Diop, a versatile defender from Charlotte FC, is entering his third professional season and has experience on loan at Serbian top-flight side FK Čukarički.

San Diego FC traded Thiago Andrade to Toronto FC in exchange for the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, $250,000 in conditional General Allocation Money (GAM), and a sell-on percentage in any future move. Andrade was part of NYCFC‘s MLS Cup 2022-winning side. Hosei Kijima was traded to D.C. United for $400,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money, providing San Diego FC with additional resources to continue building their roster.

These selections and subsequent trades reflect San Diego FC’s strategic approach to building a competitive team ahead of their 2025 debut. The team has also previously signed key players such as Duran Ferree, Marcus Ingvartsen, Paddy McNair, Alex Mighten, Jeppe Tverskov, Tomás Ángel, and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano to bolster their squad.