San Diego FC Makes a Bold Move with Heine Bruseth in the Expansion Draft | OneFootball

On Wednesday night, San Diego FC officially kicked off its story, selecting five players in the much-anticipated 2024 MLS Expansion Draft. Three of these picks are expected to suit up for the club next year, while two have already been traded for valuable assets.

The Expansion Draft is a moment where new MLS teams can pluck unprotected players from other clubs. Think of it like picking players in a video game; only here, it’s loaded with big money and intricate strategies. For every pick, the team losing a player gets $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), essentially the league’s internal currency to help balance salaries and strengthen squads.

Among San Diego’s picks, one name stood out: young Norwegian midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth, previously with Orlando City. And here’s where things get intriguing, Bruseth is, for lack of a better term, a gamble in its purest form. At just 20 years old, he joined Orlando last August from Kristiansund BK in Norway and has yet to make his MLS debut.

You can’t deny it, choosing someone like Bruseth is risky. Sure, MLS has a reputation for developing young players, but it’s also full of stories about promising talents fading into obscurity. Bruseth fits into the league's "U22 Initiative," a program designed to give financial incentives to clubs investing in young international prospects.

The thing is, the guy hasn’t played in MLS yet, and soccer in the U.S. comes with its quirks. It’s not Europe, where the tempo is more deliberate, and aerial duels dominate. Here, the game is faster, the pace more chaotic, and the fields aren’t always picture-perfect. If Bruseth struggles to adapt, San Diego FC might end up wasting a critical roster spot. But on the flip side, the logic behind the move is pretty clear. Young players like Bruseth come with enormous potential upside. If he thrives, he could be sold back to Europe for a hefty fee. And if he doesn’t pan out? Well, the team still has time to rework the roster before the season starts.

By trading away two of their picks for "assets," San Diego is already stockpiling resources for future moves. That shows the club is playing the long game, which is crucial for any team looking to make a splash in MLS right out of the gate. But there’s also a political angle to all of this. Every move in the transfer market sends a message, to fans, the league, and even potential investors. By targeting young talents like Bruseth and leveraging draft picks for resources, they’re signaling they have a plan.

Picks like Bruseth show the club isn’t just copying strategies from other teams that have succeeded. They’re carving out their own identity, and that’s something that can attract a passionate fan base from day one. And in MLS, where local rivalries and fan support are game-changers, building that community connection early is half the battle won.