San Diego FC Drafts Hosei Kijima and Turns Him Into Trade Gold | OneFootball

San Diego FC isn’t here to play nice; they’re making moves that scream ambition. And wow, if the 2024 Expansion Draft gave us a glimpse of their playbook, it’s crystal clear, they know exactly what they’re doing and aren’t afraid to shake things up.

Their latest masterstroke? Picking Hosei Kijima, who just wrapped up a solid season with St. Louis CITY SC, and flipping him to D.C. United for $400,000 in GAM for 2025.

Here’s the thing: GAM isn’t just Monopoly money. It’s a powerful tool that gives teams the flexibility to shape their roster however they want. Splashing cash on stars? Upping player salaries? Snagging that international player who’ll make fans lose their minds? GAM makes all that way more doable. That’s the genius here.

While most new teams scramble to stack their rosters with as many players as possible right off the bat, San Diego FC is playing the long game. They’re not just aiming to compete, they’re building to win.

Now, you gotta wonder how Kijima feels about all this. The young Japanese midfielder was drafted in the first round of the 2024 SuperDraft by St. Louis CITY SC and showed real promise last season. He’s quick, sharp, and versatile, a real asset on the field.

But sometimes, a player’s market value can outshine what they bring to the pitch. And that’s exactly what San Diego FC saw here. By trading Kijima for GAM, they snagged something that could shape not just one season, but several.

That said, D.C. United didn’t exactly lose out. They’re getting a player who could easily become a future star. Heck, we might even see Kijima tearing it up next season, who knows?

Meanwhile, San Diego FC seems to be playing a completely different game. They understand that building a championship-winning squad takes time. It demands patience, foresight, and, above all, strategy. By stockpiling resources like GAM, they’re laying the foundation for a team that can stay competitive not just in 2025 but for years to come.

When San Diego FC drafted Hosei Kijima, St. Louis CITY SC, his former team, received a standard $50,000 in GAM as compensation. Not exactly groundbreaking. But just hours later, San Diego FC flipped that pick into $400,000 in GAM by trading Kijima to D.C. United. In other words, St. Louis CITY SC watched a player they developed get “flipped” and multiplied in value practically overnight.

If San Diego FC is teaching us anything here, it’s that the MLS isn’t just about who has the best players anymore. It’s about who manages their resources better. In a league with tight salary caps and strict budget rules, every dollar of GAM can be the difference between a team scraping to avoid the bottom of the standings and one chasing trophies.