St. Louis CITY SC acquired $325,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) and $325,000 in 2025 GAM from Columbus Crew in exchange for midfielder Aziel Jackson. CITY SC could acquire up to an additional $250,000 in GAM if certain performance-based incentives are achieved.
“We want to thank AZ for his time and contribution to our team as he played a key part in our successful inaugural season,” said Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel. “This is a mutually beneficial trade that provides us flexibility to potentially strengthen the roster in the summer, while giving AZ a fresh start in Columbus.”
Jackson had a career-best season when he arrived to St. Louis in 2023. Jackson was given his first crack in MLS play in St. Louis and had career-best stats in goals (1), assists (4), games started (12), games played (25) and minutes played (1120).
General Allocation Money (GAM) can be used to “buy down” a player’s Salary Budget Charge as part of managing a club’s roster, including buying down a Salary Budget Charge below the 2024 league maximum of $683,750. GAM can also be applied in the following circumstances:
- To sign players new to MLS (that is, a player who did not play in MLS during the previous season).
- To re-sign an existing MLS player.
- To offset acquisition costs (loan and transfer fees).
- In connection with the extension of a player’s contract for the second year provided the player was new to MLS in the immediately prior year.
- To reduce a player’s Salary Budget Charge to the lesser of 50% of the Salary Budget Charge or $150,000.
St. Louis CITY SC (3-4-9, 18 pts) returns to CITYPARK for back-to-back matches in a week. CITY SC hosts the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday and then Atlanta United FC on Saturday with both matches kicking off at 7:30 p.m. CT. All St. Louis matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.
