WATCH: Canadian Premier League announces increases to salary cap

The Canadian Premier League today announces an increase to the league’s minimum player salary and total player compensation budgets ahead of the 2023 season. 

These changes were recommended by the league office and unanimously approved by the CPL’s Board of Governors. 

“Building upon our stellar 2022 season, we are pleased to take another important step forward in the development of the Canadian Premier League by announcing increases to our players’ total compensation,” said Commissioner Mark Noonan. “I am consistently impressed by the level of play in our young league and believe these changes will not only further reward our current players but encourage prospective players to consider the CPL as their league of choice.” 

The player minimum salary increases by 36 per cent to $30,000 CAD for the 2023 season. 

Other changes to the total compensation for players include separating each club’s player salary budget from the technical staff salary budget, now each with independent minimum and maximum spends. The two budgets were previously connected and limited within a total combined spend amount. 

The result is an increase to the player total compensation budget by $175,000 to a maximum spend of $1.125 million, an 18.5 per cent increase. As well, the minimum a CPL club must now spend on its player compensation budget is $750,000, a 15 per cent increase from 2022. 

The maximum spend of $1.125 million for player compensation can be achieved by clubs implementing the league’s under-21 players incentive program that was first introduced ahead of the 2022 season. It was designed specifically to encourage CPL clubs to sign promising young talent. This program provides salary cap relief to clubs on the first $200,000 of under-21 player compensation, whereby only 50 per cent of an under-21 player’s salary counts toward the salary budget cap. This mechanism allows clubs to earn up to $100,000 of relief (50 per cent of $200,000) to hit the $1.125 million ceiling. 

“These important changes continue to reinforce our mission of creating opportunities for young Canadian players to showcase their talents on home soil and build a league that all who love the beautiful game here in Canada can proudly support,” said Noonan.