New York City FC sit out the summer transfer window

The Major League Soccer secondary transfer window is now closed. It was shut gently but firmly at midnight for clubs in the United States, and closed last Thursday for clubs in Canada, bringing another silly season to an end.

It’s also another reminder of MLS exceptionalism: The summer transfer window might be the busiest global marketplace for players in the world’s biggest sport, but it only accounts for 22% of the players coming into this league.

A total of 62 players¹ were signed this summer according to the official 2024 MLS.com Transfer Tracker, which works out to an average of a little more than two players per organization. St Louis City was the busiest club in the summer transfer window, adding six players. They are followed by Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United, and Columbus Crew, who brought on five players each.

2024 MLS Summer Transfers by Club

*Supporters’ Shield Top 10

Two of those teams, Real Salt Lake and Columbus, are among the Top 10 in the Supporters’ Shield race, and are considered contenders for the 2024 MLS Cup. Real were particularly active in the transfer market this year, completely overhauling the squad by bringing in a total of 14 players.

But many of the teams at the top of the table kept quiet in this transfer window, with four adding just one player and two adding none.

One of those with zero additions is New York City FC. It isn’t the first time NYCFC remained inactive in the market. The club didn’t add any players in the 2020 summer window, when the league played a COVID-shortened season. And they didn’t add any players in the title-winning 2021 season, after they brought in nine signings at the start of the year.

New York City FC Transfers by Year/Window

We knew this was going to be a quiet transfer window — New York City Sporting Director David Lee said as much last month. But as Andrew Leigh wrote in these pages a few weeks ago, this team could use some depth in spite of “the cold realities of MLS roster rules and regulations, and the logic of standing pat with a recently-remade roster that’s holding its own and comfortably in position to make the MLS Cup Playoffs a little over halfway through its season.”

What NYCFC needs in the summer transfer window

Here are parts of the roster New York City FC could address via player recruitment during the MLS Secondary Transfer Window.

Hudson River BlueAndrew Leigh

No New Signings: NYCFC’s summer transfer staycation

While other clubs are splashing out on big-name players NYCFC are content with the $5 happy-hour spritzes at Roey’s.

Hudson River BlueOliver Strand

True, New York City could still add a free agent or claim a player off waivers before the 2024 Roster Freeze Date of September 13, 2024. In August 2022, the club claimed Matías Pellegrini off waivers, then resigned him the following year.

But it looks like the roster that Lee put together over the winter is fixed through the end of the season.

Instead, the biggest piece of summer transfer news for New York City was the departure of Talles Magno for SC Corinthians in Brazil. He joins the Serie A side on a one-year loan for a reported $1.5 million fee, with a $13.5 million option to buy.

Talles Magno is already paying dividends for his new club. The 22-year-old scored in his Corinthians debut, jumping on a loose ball inside the box to poke home an equalizing goal in stoppage time just one day after officially joining the team.

Then he scored again three days later in his first start for Corinthians, contributing to a key 1-2 away win over Red Bull Bragantino in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16. The former NYCFC winger now has two goals in 114 minutes for his new team.

Talles Magno joins Corinthians on loan

The 22-year-old Designated Player has left New York City FC to join Corinthians in Brazil’s Série A on loan through June 2025.

Hudson River BlueHudson River Blue Staff

Talles Magno scores in Corinthians debut

The 22-year-old came on as a sub and scored an equalizer in stoppage time, earning a key point for a team battling relegation.

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The Talles Magno that could have been

A look back at the ups and downs of Talles Magno’s New York City FC career makes it hard not to think things should have gone differently for the talented 22-year-old.

Hudson River BlueJohn Baney

¹ This only includes players signed to First Team contracts, not MLS NEXT Pro.