Ten players signed to NYCFC II contracts

Earlier today, New York City FC released the names of ten players signed to the initial roster for NYCFC II. The team will compete in the newly-created MLS NEXT Pro league, which is set to start play this week.

All ten players are from the Tri-state area, and they will be on the squad that kicks off NYCFC II’s campaign against New England Revolution II on Sunday at 5 pm ET at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University in Queens.

The players include two goalkeepers, one defender, five midfielders, and two forwards. They will join homegrown players Nicholas Benalcazar, Jonathan Jimenez, and Samuel Owusu, according to the club.

Benalcazar will reportedly serve as the captain of NYCFC II.

Players Signed

Goalkeepers: Giuliano Santucci, Alex Rando

Defenders: Stephen Turnbull

Midfielders: Andrew Maia, John Denis, Piero Elias, Steven Bednarsky, Jack Beer

Forwards: El Mahdi Youssoufi, Julian Gomez

Forward El Mahdi Youssoufi, a senior at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, was selected by NYCFC in the 2022 SuperDraft.

NYCFC II will also field members of the Senior Team who are in need of competitive game experience. NYCFC II will serve as that outlet for both younger players looking to develop and for older players looking to gain match fitness.

Senior Team players such as Justin Haak, Cody Mizel, and others who haven’t featured much in this season so far might have the opportunity to find some minutes playing for NYCFC II. It would also be unsurprising for players recovering from injuries, such as Anton Tinnerholm, to play for NYCFC II before suiting up alongside Maxime Chanot and Alex Callens.