Starts: 24
Minutes: 2,112
Age: 27
Key Stat: 5,044 minutes played between New York City, Standard de Liége, and the Socceroos
After signing at the transfer deadline back in April 2025, Aiden O’Neill slotted right into the New York City FC lineup. The former Standard de Liége captain's choice to move to the Big Apple has been a success, and the Australian has been rock-solid in the heart of the NYCFC midfield ever since.
The Australian international is no stranger to fierce competition, with time spent in various levels of English football — including the Premier League with Burnley FC. O’Neill also spent multiple years in his native country playing in the A League, even winning the A-League Grand Final with Melbourne City FC.
For a player of such experience, the expectations were high that O’Neill could become a steady member of Pascal Jensen’s midfield and help fill the void left by James Sands, who departed on loan to St. Pauli FC before the start of the 2025 season.
Despite signing in late April, and not suiting up for the team until Matchday 12, O’Neill became such a regular feature that his 2,112 minutes across all competitions were the 10th-most minutes in the squad.
Midfield partnership
The most vital attribute O’Neill brought to the side was his steady defensive capabilities in the deep-lying midfield role. The 27-year-old excelled in Head Coach Pascal Jansen's system, ending the season with 54 tackles and winning 55.4% of duels, which put him in the 80th percentile amongst MLS midfielders.
