by CHRISTIAN ARAOS

Ned Grabavoy will declare for free agency after New York City FC declined his contract option, Empire of Soccer has learned.

The 32-year-old Grabavoy has played in MLS for 13 seasons allowing him to be eligible for free agency.

Grabavoy was listed as “eligible for Free Agency” in New York City FC’s roster release on Friday afternoon. According to sources, Grabavoy will choose to hit the open market instead of returning to MLS via the re-entry draft. As a result, he is able to negotiate the terms of his next contract with any club in MLS that is interested in him this offseason.

Grabavoy, who will be 33 next week, featured for NYCFC in 26 matches this season, starting 22 games and scoring two goals and netting three assists. He entered the league in 2004 with the Los Angeles Galaxy, selected 14th in the 2004 SuperDraft. He is a two-time MLS Cup winner with the LA Galaxy and then Real Salt Lake.

Under the new CBA, free agency is defined as follows:

[colored_box color=”blue”]“Players 28 years of age and older with eight years of MLS service who are out of contract, or have not had their option exercised, are eligible for Free Agency in 2015, allowing them the freedom to negotiate a new contract with any MLS club, including their previous club, subject to certain restrictions. A player has fulfilled a year of service if they were on a club’s roster prior to August 15 or played in at least one regular season or postseason game in the relevant year. The list of eligible Free Agents will be released on Monday, Dec. 7. Starting at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 8, Free Agents may engage in negotiations with MLS clubs outside of their previous club.”[/colored_box]