Nashville SC sends McKinze Gaines to Houston Dynamo, adds international spot from Philadelphia Union

Nashville SC announced two trades Monday afternoon, sending forward McKinze Gaines to the Houston Dynamo and acquiring an international roster spot from the Philadelphia Union.

Nashville will receive $75,000 in general allocation money from Houston in exchange for Gaines. In a separate deal, the club sent $350,000 in GAM to Philadelphia to receive an international spot for 2024 and 2025.

Gaines, 26, came to Nashville in December in a trade with Charlotte FC. The winger played in seven games across all competitions this season, making two starts. He scored in a 4-0 win over Moca FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Feb. 28 and had an assist in his other start, a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 10.

By default, MLS teams have eight spots for international players, but can acquire them from other teams in exchange for players or money. In December, Nashville traded two international spots to New York City FC, two to Charlotte and one to St. Louis City, receiving $825,000 in total GAM. That left Nashville with three spots remaining, which are currently being filled by English striker Sam Surridge and Canadians Jacob Shaffelburg and Lukas MacNaughton.

Nashville has five other non-American players on its roster — Hany Mukhtar, Anibal Godoy, Randall Leal, Dru Yearwood and Brian Anunga — but all five are permanent residents of the United States and do not require international spots. If Surridge, Shaffelburg or MacNaughton received a green card, it would free up an international spot.

The primary MLS transfer window ends Tuesday, but the secondary window opens on July 18 and runs through Aug. 14. With an extra international spot in addition to the money it acquired during the offseason, Nashville has more flexibility to make a move during the secondary window.

MORE:How a packed, unforgiving schedule has led to Nashville SC's worst MLS start since 2020

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.