For the first time in his MLS career, Justin Mapp possessed the opportunity to select his next destination. There were no peculiar mechanisms to restrict his potential destinations, no ties to bind him to one club or another. His future fell firmly within his own hands.

Mapp stood out as one of the top prizes in the first MLS free agency class. The former Montréal Impact winger just needed to sort through his options and pick the best one for him to continue his career. He completed the entire ordeal in time to make history as the first player to switch MLS clubs in free agency when he completed his deal with Sporting Kansas City on Monday.

“It was a little bit of everything,” Mapp said during a conference call on Monday afternoon. “It was definitely refreshing, but maybe a little bit overwhelming. [Nobody] has really gone through this. I was just trying to take it in and weigh all of the variables and whatnot. I think the fact that players who have played in this league for a long time and seen and helped the league grow deserve this opportunity, especially at the latter stages of their career. We’ve put in the time trying to get a little bit more of a say in where they want to live and where they want to play, whatever their case may be. It’s always refreshing, but the process was definitely different.”