NYCFC sign Alfredo Morales from Fortuna Dusseldorf

With just 10 days until the beginning to the 2021 MLS season, New York City FC has announced that they’ve signed Alfredo Morales from German club Fortuna Dusseldorf. The German-born American is now officially under contract through the 2023 season with an option for 2024 as well. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but is rumored to be around $100,000 according to Transfermarkt.

Morales, 30, primarily plays in the central and defensive midfield positions. An experienced and hard-working player, Morales will have his work cut out for him if he is to break into the starting lineup with stiff competition in the midfield. Keaton Parks and James Sands seem to be the go-to when it comes to holding midfield with the highly touted Cacha Acevedo right behind them. Morales’ experience with the United States’ national team and in Germany’s top flight could help him in that regard, though.

Due to the league’s current COVID-19 protocol, Morales will have to participate in a quick quarantine. He is expected to be available for NYCFC’s last preseason game against Hartford Athletic on April 10.

Despite being born in Germany, Morales has United States citizenship due to his father being a naturalized citizen from Peru. Because of this, Morales has capped 16 times to dates for the USMNT with his last batch of playing time coming back in November 2019 during Concacaf Nations League, in which the Yanks took victories over Canada and Cuba. This should classify him as a non-international signing.