Greetings and welcome to the first NYCFC media roundup of 2018!
To say we had a busy start to the year would be an understatement, especially considering we announced the first signing in World Football this year, our first-ever Young Designated Player, Jesus Medina.
READ: NYCFC to Face Club Atletico de San Luis in Preseason 2018
Who will be following him through the door and onto the 2018 roster? It’s fair to say that the rumor mill is really starting to turn with preseason just weeks away.
We start with reports from the Netherlands where it’s being reported that NYCFC want to sign defensive midfielder Joey Pelupessy from Heracles.
According to an MLS story (taken from Dutch publication Tubantia.nl), the 24-year old is only available for “a significant transfer fee”.
Sam Stejskal reports: “New York City FC are attempting to land defensive midfielder Joey Pelupessy from Dutch side Heracles, according to the Eredivisie club’s technical director Nico-Jan Hoogma.
“Hoogma told reporters on Thursday that NYCFC is interested in Pelupessy, but that Heracles aren’t interested in selling unless they’re blown away by a significant transfer fee.
“Pelupessy, 24, captains Heracles and has started all 18 of the club’s league matches this season, recording one assist. He’s been a regular for the club since he joined them from fellow Dutch side Twente in June 2014, recording a pair of goals and five assists in 107 league matches.”
Remember, NYCFC.com will have confirmation on any incomings or outgoings when, and only when, the deals are done.
There’s more on Medina in an excellent, comprehensive long-read on Sports Illustrated penned by Luis Miguel Echegary.
Echegary writes: “From a big-picture standpoint, Medina’s arrival is another example on how NYCFC–and the rest the league–is rethinking the strategy when it comes Designated Players and international talent.
“The focus, it seems, is not just on well-known names and well-worn players like Pirlo, but also about trusting promising, albeit younger, players, especially from South and Central America.”
READ:Five Things on NYCFC’s 2018 Schedule
Elsewhere, Kyle Schnitzer of the New York Post believes that City's signing of Medina signals a drive towards recruiting youth.
Claudio Reyna features prominently in the piece, with the NYCFC Sporting Director quoted as saying: “We have shifted a little bit in terms of our philosophies and bringing players in.
“We want players who want to be here and every player we’ve brought in to the club has wanted to come to NYCFC. But players who are at the stage or profile that are very motivated, hungry, are coming into their peak or just before the peak of their careers.”
That one is well worth a read in full here.
Finally, a clutch of NYCFC stars are currently in Abu Dhabi for a special Etihad video project and if you’re in the Gulf, you can meet them!
Read this story on GulfNews.com to find out how you can meet our boys and win round-trip tickets from Abu Dhabi to NYC, including tickets to one of our games.
