The concept of a Designated Player (DP) is a feature of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.

Under the DP rule, each MLS team is allowed to sign up to three players who are exempt from the league’s salary cap. These players, known as Designated Players, can be paid above the salary cap and do not count against the team’s salary budget.

The DP rule was introduced in 2007 as a way to allow MLS teams to sign high-profile players and compete with other top leagues around the world. It has been successful in attracting top talent to MLS and has helped to raise the level of play in the league. Some of the most well-known Designated Players in MLS history include David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The DP rule has evolved over time and has been modified to give teams more flexibility in how they use their Designated Player slots. It remains an important feature of the league and is one of the ways that MLS teams can build competitive rosters and compete for titles.