Keaton Parks to miss remainder of 2021 season

New York City FC’s Keaton Parks will miss the remainder of the 2021 season.

The defensive midfielder sat out Sunday’s 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union with what was described as a calf injury. Yesterday, he “underwent surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to remove a blood clot from his popliteal artery in his lower right leg,” according to a statement issued by the club.

Parks has become one of NYCFC’s most instrumental starters. The 24-year-old Texan is a towering 6’ 4”, and a surprisingly technical player given his imposing frame.

Parks’s breakout came on June 12, 2019, when NYCFC played North Carolina FC in the fourth round of the US Open Cup on the turf field at St. John’s University in Queens. On loan from SL Benfica, he scored twice in the 4-0 win and dominated the midfield.

Parks soon started seeing regular playing time under then-manager Domènec Torrent. Parks signed a multi-year contract with NYCFC in January 2020.

We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.