New York City Football Club (NYCFC) can today announce that it has traded forward Héber to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for up to $550K in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The Club will receive a guaranteed $400,000, with $200,000 in 2023 GAM and $200,000 in 2024 GAM, with an additional $150,000 if certain performance-based incentives are met.
The Brazilian joined NYCFC in 2019 from Croatian side HNK Rijeka. He has played 90 games for NYCFC, tallying 4,423 minutes across numerous competitions scoring 30 goals, and recording seven assists. His blend of goalscoring abilities, charisma and bright smile made him beloved by fans and teammates alike.
In his first season with the Club Héber managed 15 goals, winning NYCFC Newcomer of the Year and Goal of the Year for 2019. His minutes were severely limited in 2020 and 2021 following an unfortunate ACL injury.
Sporting Director David Lee said: “Héber has been such an integral part of our Club the past four seasons. Since the day he arrived he’s brought a huge amount of joy to our training facility and has been a great person to work with. Ultimately, as we headed into the offseason we needed to make moves in our roster to add resources which will allow us to reshape the squad for the seasons ahead.
“Héber made an immediate impact on the pitch after he joined the Club and became a focal point of our team in 2019, which helped us to finish in first place in the Eastern Conference that season, and he showed incredible determination to recover from his ACL injury across 2020 and 2021. He has also been such an important player in our locker room with his infectious and competitive personality across the last four seasons. Héber will always be remembered by everyone at the Club for his goals and many great moments, we would like to thank him for all he has done and wish him all the very best in Seattle.”
Héber said: “I love this Club and this City, since I arrived in 2019, I’ve felt completely at home. Despite the ups and downs, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here for what we have been able to accomplish as a team. Being able to win trophies for New York City and its amazing fans is something I will always treasure.
“I would like to thank my teammates, the medical team and everyone at the Club for all the support you gave me while I was returning from injury. I couldn’t have done it without you and now feel as fit and strong as ever. I am excited by the new challenge in Seattle and am very happy to be staying in MLS which is a league I now love. I will always remember my time in New York very fondly and it will always have a very special place in my heart.”
Everyone at NYCFC wishes Héber all the best with this next step of his career.
Transaction: New York City Football Club trades Forward Héber to Seattle Sounders in exchange for up to $550K in General Allocation Money.
