Just two games into the 2025 Major League Soccer season, questions are already being raised about NYCFC’s lack of signings.
Looking around the league, it’s clear that MLS has increased its footprint on the global soccer stage by spending big, particularly this offseason.
Clubs like Atlanta United, which reportedly paid $22 million for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, and San Diego FC, which signed Mexico international Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, have made bold moves. Meanwhile, NYCFC looks a step behind the rest of the league in building a balanced squad.
This winter, the club suffered key losses, with James Sands leaving on loan to St. Pauli in Germany and attacker Santiago Rodriguez joining Brazilian side Botafogo. Both were critical cogs in NYCFC’s system, and without them, the Pigeons have already shown signs of struggle.
In the season opener against Inter Miami, while head coach Pascal Jansen praised his team’s performance, the defense gave up a late equalizer. What should’ve been a 2-1 victory instead became two points dropped.
“We were just a little too short. That sums it all up,” Jansen told reporters after the match. “I think we controlled some parts of the game the way we wanted to, especially out of possession, even though they went down to 10 men. But then again, it’s always very, very sad to concede a late equalizer.”
While NYCFC’s newfound “bulletproof” mentality is essential for winning trophies in MLS, so is having top-class talent. Against LAFC, the same positional issues resurfaced.
The Pigeons bravely fought for most of the match, but possession dropped significantly after attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez was substituted in the 60th minute.
Moralez, 38, has been a mainstay in NYCFC’s midfield since signing in 2017. However, after a serious knee injury in 2023, the Argentine is still effective, but at his age, no longer capable of playing a full game.
Once he left the pitch, NYCFC struggled to find attacking momentum, and the defense suffered as a result. This left LAFC with most of the ball and ample time to find a late game-winner, thanks to defender Ryan Hollingshead.
When Moralez is on the field, City has more control of the ball and can dictate tempo.
“I think he controls the game very well,” midfielder Keaton Parks told reporters when asked about Moralez. “He controls the tempo on and off the ball, he gets the [defensive] press going when we need it, he slows it down when we need to. As soon as he came off, we do lose a little bit of that control.”
As the season progresses, this will continue to be an issue for the Pigeons. With Rodriguez gone, NYCFC has no natural creative midfielder besides Moralez. While attacker Alonso Martinez can carry the scoring load, the team needs a player who can supply him with consistent chances.
With the MLS primary transfer window closing on April 23, the club still has time to find a replacement.
“We need a little bit more depth in the squad. These conversations [are ongoing with Sporting Director David Lee] every day,” Jansen told the media before facing LAFC. “I’m in contact with David as much as I can in order to discuss what I see and what I feel about the current squad, but also making sure that we’re aligned in what we see needs to be done to strengthen the squad. Hopefully, we’ll have some good news in the nearby future.”
If NYCFC is serious about solving its midfield problem, one name stands out: Kevin De Bruyne.
The Manchester City star has long been linked to MLS, with San Diego FC reportedly expressing interest in bringing the Belgian to the United States. With his contract expiring in the summer, a transfer to NYCFC could be an interesting option for Jansen and his squad should a move out West fail to come to fruition. Given the club’s ties to City Football Group, a switch to NYC could provide De Bruyne with a fresh challenge.
While it remains a long shot, a move like this would put the club back at the forefront of MLS elites.
NYCFC’s early struggles highlight a squad in need of a creative force. Whether through a short-term fix or a blockbuster signing like De Bruyne down the line, the Pigeons need reinforcements to stay competitive.
