Midfielder Justin Mapp joined Sporting Kansas City on Monday, the first free-agent signing in the history of Major League Soccer.
This year's MLS collective bargaining agreement introduced free agency to the league for the first time. Free agency is limited to players out of contract who are at least 28 with eight years of MLS service.
Mapp, 31, joins Sporting KC after spending the past four seasons with the Montreal Impact. He played in just five games last season after fracturing his elbow in the first game of the season. He then suffered a foot injury in September.
"Sporting Kansas City has always been a team and organization I have respected, and now I am very happy to be a part of it and play in front of such passionate fans," Mapp said in a statement. "I am thankful and appreciative for my time at Montreal, and I'm looking forward to the 2016 season in Kansas City."
After being drafted by D.C. United in 2002, he moved to Chicago the following year, staying there until 2010, before spending a year and a half with the Philadelphia Union. He has 23 goals and 70 assists in 318 MLS appearances, including the playoffs.
"Adding an experienced player of Justin's caliber is a great start to our offseason," Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. "He fits very well into our model of play and brings a lot of qualities that will help us reach our goals next season."
Mapp is a U.S. international, earning eight caps between 2005 and 2007.