NEW YORK – Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC added to their rosters at the Major League Soccer expansion draft Tuesday night.

Miami maintained each of their picks, while Nashville traded two of its selections away once the trade window reopened following the event.

With the first pick in the expansion draft, Inter Miami CF selected New York City FC defender Ben Sweat, who saw 13 starts over 18 appearances and contributed two assists. The club also added FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell before locking in LA Football Club midfielder Lee Nguyen, who helped lead LAFC to a record-breaking regular season to capture the Supporters’ Shield. Miami’s final two picks were Columbus Crew SC midfielder Luis Argudo and Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.

With the No. 2 pick in the expansion draft, Nashville SC selected Minnesota United FC forward Abu Danladi before taking Portland Timbers defender Zarek Valentin and subsequently trading him to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Willis. Selecting New England Revolution defender Jalil Anibaba with their third pick, Nashville then chose Atlanta United forward Brandon Vazquez, but traded him to FC Cincinnati for $150,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money. Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Medranda was Nashville’s fifth and final pick.

Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough announced each of the club’s expansion draft picks. In Nashville, owner John Ingram, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, Boston Red Sox right fielder and Nashville native Mookie Betts, Judah and the Lion band member Nate Zuercher, and a Nashville SC supporter announced their five selections.

 

PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2019 MLS EXPANSION DRAFT

Draft Order Player Expansion Team Selection
1 Ben Sweat (New York City FC) Inter Miami CF
2 Abu Danladi (Minnesota United FC) Nashville SC
3 Alvas Powell (FC Cincinnati) Inter Miami CF
4 Zarek Valentin (Portland Timbers)
*Traded to Houston Dynamo for goalkeeper Joe Willis		 Nashville SC
5 Lee Nguyen (Los Angeles Football Club) Inter Miami CF
6 Jalil Anibaba (New England Revolution) Nashville SC
7 Luis Argudo (Columbus Crew SC) Inter Miami CF
8 Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United)
*Traded to FC Cincinnati for $150,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money		 Nashville SC
9 Bryan Meredith (Seattle Sounders FC) Inter Miami CF
10 Jimmy Medranda (Sporting Kansas City) Nashville SC

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.