Ronald Matarrita, Jack Harrison, and Eirik Johansen receive green cards, will count as domestic players under MLS rules

We had wondered out loud how NYCFC would manage to account for all its new international signings under Major League Soccer’s roster rules, which place limits on such players. That makes sense in plenty of ways— MLS ought to be a place that emphasizes homegrown talent within good reason. But New York City’s offseason posed some questions in terms of roster compliance.

Today, those questions were answered. Norway’s Eirik Johansen, England’s Jack Harrison, Costa Rica’s Ronald Matarrita have received U.S. green cards. As permanent legal residents, they will no longer occupy international roster spots for New York City FC.

The Bolton-born, Stoke-raised Harrison first came to America to attend prep school in Massachusetts. He went on to star as a freshman at Wake Forest University in North Carolina before joining the Bronx Blues last year.

NYCFC currently has ten international roster spots, with nine currently used. Two of the ten, acquired in past deals with DC United and Colorado, are set to expire at the end of this year. A pair of New York City’s current international men are loan players, Yangel Herrera (Manchester City) and Miguel Camargo (Chorrillo). Jefferson Mena, an international player currently on loan with Barcelona SC in Ecuador, is still under contract with NYCFC.

Congratulations to Eirik, Jack, and Mata!