NWSL announces its own version of 'Beckham rule,' despite players union objections

The National Women's Soccer League announced it was introducing a rule to allow teams to circumvent the league's salary cap, despite the players union's having rejected the NWSL's proposal last week

The National Women's Soccer League announced it was introducing a rule to allow teams to circumvent the league's salary cap, despite the players union's having rejected the NWSL's proposal last week.

The NWSL said in a press news release Tuesday that it would go forward with its "high-impact player" rule and that the rule would go into effect in July. Clubs will be able to pay up to $1 million to players outside the NWSL's salary cap in the hope of retaining big-name talent.

Soccer fans may know it as the “Beckham rule,” as Major League Soccer introduced its own designated player rule in 2007 as a way to attract superstar David Beckham.

The NWSL version is a similar mechanism available to players who meet specific criteria, such as being in the top 30 in voting for the Ballon d’Or, the top individual award in world soccer, or being selected as NWSL MVP finalists in the previous two seasons. Teams would be allowed to sign such players immediately so long as the contract terms do not require the teams to use the rule until the date it takes effect, the NWSL said.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman called the high-impact player rule "critical to the continued growth of our league."