Tough Choices: New York City FC's 2026 roster decisions begin now

Last night, New York City FC’s season ended.

While there’s plenty of time for the fans to grieve, cope, and heal, the club can afford no such luxuries in the days following the end of the season: There are important roster decisions to make.

Aside from the players who’ll heat the transfer stove come January, NYCFC has two players out of contract completely, and ten others who are in contract option years, meaning NYCFC will have to decide if they’ll pick up a player’s option and keep them around on their current deal, or if they’ll be packing their bags for new clubs next season.

To make matters even more juicy, it’s not entirely clear who’s making these decisions for NYCFC, with former Sporting Director David Lee stepping down in October, and with the club yet to announce an interim or newly-appointed candidate to replace him. Hudson River Blue reached out to NYCFC for comment on this matter and has not yet heard back.

But someone will have to be submitting such roster decisions to the league office, and needs to be handling contract negotiations with players entering free agency. Whoever this mystery Sporting Director may be, they will have plenty on their plate in the coming weeks.

NYCFC players out of contract

1) Justin Haak

Haak’s contract situation should be a primary concern for fans, with his deal expiring at the end of this season. Coming off a career year, Haak has established himself as a key cog in Jansen’s defensive machine that boasted the third-best defense in the Eastern Conference, and led NYCFC through a stellar run of defensive form in the postseason. The 24-year-old started games at center back, holding midfield, and even in a unique hybrid role of the two, often slotting into the middle of a back-five out of possession, and pushing up into the midfield in possession.

Haak’s five goal involvements in MLS play last season put him above Nico Fernández Mercau and Andrés Perea in NYCFC’s stat columns, and saw him finish level with Agustín Ojeda. His versatility has been his secret weapon.

His rise into his current role is worth noting, too. Coming out of NYCFC’s academy as the club’s third-ever homegrown signing, the Brooklyn native worked his way from a youth standout to a senior player, then again from an occasional contributor to an undroppable starter. That sort of journey from a player born within the city limits of the team he represents brings a vital degree of club DNA that cannot be purchased.

Recently, Haak has been vocal about his contract situation, claiming Lee told him that he was “not a 34-game starter” before the start of this season. Earlier negotiations between Lee and Haak’s camp are rumored to have gone poorly, with Haak walking away from the table entirely after feeling low-balled by a new offer. In a recent interview with the New York Post, however, Haak noted that his contract talks with NYCFC had resumed and were improving, despite a growing list of MLS and English Championship sides expressing interest in his services.

While Haak’s relationship with Lee had clearly soured, his relationship with Head Coach Pascal Jansen appears solid. Now, the homegrown’s fate in NYC rests in the hands of NYCFC’s mystery CSO, and should probably sit at the top of their to-do list.

2) Maxi Moralez

Then, of course, there’s club legend Maxi Moralez. For all the talk of his age coming into this season, the 38-year-old didn’t just start every match – he racked up the second-highest minutes total of his nine-year NYCFC career, logging an incredible 2,744 minutes in the 2025 regular season. In those 45-plus hours he spent on the field this year, he led NYCFC with seven assists, and chipped in with two goals for himself.

Maxi undoubtedly had some brilliant moments this season, but what he has left in those legs remains a question mark for NYCFC fans. Physicality and defensive ground coverage were never exactly hallmarks of the playmaker’s game, but they’ve grown to become a larger concern as Maxi continues to age, especially when his attacking output to offset such deficiencies has dropped to single-digit goal involvements in 2024 and 2025, down from the 20-plus contributions he was offering at the start of his NYCFC career.

When speaking to the media, Maxi continues to suggest that he feels good out there despite his age, vocalizing no obvious signs of retirement. But, there’s not an obvious landing spot outside of NYCFC for the No 10, who already tried the “homecoming” return to Argentina in 2023, only to return to New York a few months later.

This points to either Maxi signing a new short-term deal with NYCFC, or Maxi hanging up the boots entirely after his 20-year professional career. But, given the value he still carries as a player and a leader, don’t be surprised if the little magician has one more act come 2026.

NYCFC players with contract options

3) Thiago Martins

The biggest name with a contract option is Thiago Martins. He’s the captain, a designated player, and the rock of the back line. Given the massive role he plays for his side, the “if” of his option feels less of a question for NYCFC. The “what” of his option, however, could be interesting.

Martins has been a Designated Player since his signing in 2022, and if his option was picked up, the most likely scenario is that he would remain so in 2026. But the terms of his option are not public, and his salary has fluctuated year-by-year since his signing, with his guaranteed compensation actually dropping by 12% in 2025 compared to 2024.

It might be a stretch, but if NYCFC is desperate to open up an additional DP slot, perhaps there’s a world where Martin’s guaranteed comp dips to a point in which it could be bought below the DP threshold using Targeted Allocation Money. NYCFC could also theoretically decline the option on the current contract, only to renegotiate a fresh deal with Martins at a price point that’s more favorable for the club, like they did with Maxi Moralez in 2022.

DP status aside, Martins remains a vital player for Jansen and remains a top center back in MLS. With plenty of gas left in Thiago’s 30-year-old tank, it’d be a huge shock if the Brazilian wasn’t back with NYCFC in 2026, no matter how NYCFC looks to execute the deal.

4) Tayvon Gray

After years of trading minutes with Mitja Ilenič, Tayvon Gray appears to have emerged victorious in the great Right Back Battle of New York City. Despite the rumors surrounding Mitja’s future at NYCFC, the Slovenian has another year (or two, if his option is triggered) on his contract. Gray, the presumed starter entering 2026, will need his option picked up now if he’s to stick around.

Given his importance to the team, picking up Gray’s option feels like a no-brainer for whoever is running the sporting department for NYCFC, especially considering his relatively low wages compared to his immense output, with his $215,492 in guaranteed compensation putting him behind guys like Ilenič, Strahinja Tanasijevič, and Kevin O’Toole. From a squad-building perspective, it’s in NYCFC’s best interest to lock Tayvon in on these wages, even if the Jamaican international probably deserves a pay bump by now…

5) Andrés Perea

Perea’s horrible injury in NYCFC’s series-clinching win over Charlotte FC makes the decision surrounding his option much more difficult. After a career year in 2025, what would’ve been an easy option to pick up for 2026 now becomes an uncomfortable conversation. While there’s no concrete timetable yet available for Perea’s return, his serious right leg fracture will likely keep him sidelined for much of the 2026 season, which is his option year.

Perea’s $726,500 in total compensation puts him above the salaries of other key midfield figures such as Aiden O’Neill, Keaton Parks, Maxi Moralez, and Haak. So, picking up this option could have a real impact on roster construction as NYCFC looks to stay below the salary cap.

To help navigate this, NYCFC could look to the Season-Ending Injury roster mechanism, although even that route would come with complications. Picking up Perea’s option and then putting him on SEI would make him ineligible for the entire 2026 season, but it would open up the roster slot that he currently occupies. NYCFC could then sign what the league defines as a “replacement player,” whose budget charge would not count against the salary cap, so long as they’re making less than Perea’s $726,500. Using this method, NYCFC could theoretically replace Perea’s output with a new player for next season, while the Colombian recovers from his injury.

But taking this approach would shut down Perea for all of 2026, even if he’s able to return from injury before then. Plus, since picking up his current option would only keep Perea under contract through 2026, NYCFC would have to renegotiate his contract again following his SEI year anyway. Maybe signing Perea to a new deal come the end of next season, when Perea’s injury is hopefully healed, is an easier task than doing so now would be, given how little information NYCFC has on Perea’s timeline for return.

But unless that option is picked up, or unless a new deal is agreed, Perea will enter free agency right at the start of his lengthy rehab assignment, marking a bitter end to a promising NYCFC career. Of course, all of us here at Hudson River Blue hope that’s not the case, and that something can be sorted between NYCFC and Perea’s camp.

6) Kevin O’Toole

It’s fair to say O’Toole has surpassed everyone’s expectations so far. The 2022 second-round draft pick out of Princeton has a knack for beating out pricier imports for left back minutes, solidifying himself as a starter first under Nick Cushing, and again under Jansen.

This year, in an extremely adaptable tactical system, O’Toole has been able to slot in wherever Jansen has needed him. He has lined up in his usual left back slot in a back four, held down the entire left flank as a left wing back in a back five, and even got some minutes as a true left winger, harkening back to his Princeton days where he racked up 33 goal involvements in his four-year collegiate career.

His dependable displays in 2025 were enough to see O’Toole land the first international call-up of his career this fall, representing Ireland through their most recent (and absolutely electric) World Cup Qualifying matches.

Even with the signing of Raul Gustavo, who’s fielded some left-back minutes since his August arrival, NYCFC remains relatively thin at left back after shipping off their highly rated prospect Christian McFarlane to Manchester City back in January. As a consistent, everyday starter, making a budget-friendly $246,667 in guaranteed comp, picking up O’Toole’s option feels like an easy decision for NYCFC ahead of 2026.

7) Strahinja Tanasijevič

Tanasijevič has played the smallest role of any first-team player with an expiring contract ahead of the 2026 season.

Offering important backup services at center back and right back, we’ve seen Tanasijevic deputize Thiago Martins, Haak, and the departed Birk Risa at center back, along with Gray and Ilenic for emergency right back minutes. In two seasons, he’s managed to rack up 16 MLS starts across 30 appearances, for a total of about 1,600 minutes. That said, these cameos were most often in a pinch when NYCFC were battling injury, suspension, or fixture congestion.

As far as the depth chart goes, he sits fourth amongst center backs, and third amongst right backs. While his $338,750 in guaranteed comp isn’t a monster cap hit, it’s probably more than you’d want to be paying your last resort senior defender, especially considering he’s taking home more than Haak, O’Toole, and Gray.

With a bit of cap space to play with, though, there’s not a ton of urgency to cast off the player either. In the minutes he’s seen, he’s been largely reliable, which is more than some past NYCFC depth piece center-backs can say. And, at the end of the day, no team in this fast-paced, physical league should be turning away good center back depth unless they have to.

But, with his minutes likely to be further limited by the signing of Raul Gustavo, and with last year’s first-round draft pick Max Murray and homegrown signing Prince Amponsah waiting in the center back wings on much friendlier budgets, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if NYCFC declined this option to free up some cap space for other signings.

8) Tomás Romero

Backup goalkeeper is something of a thankless job. You can spend entire seasons without seeing the field, then, in an instant, get thrust into a critical situation for your side. In that moment, your role shifts from “locker room vibes guy” to a vital contributor with no margin for error.

Sitting behind USMNT starter Matt Freese, Tomás Romero has executed this role as well as anyone could’ve asked for. Romero made five appearances in 2025, with four of those coming in MLS play, and one coming in NYCFC’s short-lived US Open Cup run. Had they advanced past the mighty Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Romero may well have seen out the rest of the tournament between the pipes.

Through his 384 minutes of play this season, Romero allowed just three goals, conceding just once every 128 minutes. The brunt of those minutes came through his four starts, but his lone substitute appearances showed particular guts, coming on for a concussed Freese in the 67th minute to preserve a one-goal lead against the Red Bulls this past September. Coming into any game cold off the bench is a tall order, but doing so in that environment, on the road in Harrison, and shutting up shop was an impressive job well done.

Making just $104,000 a year, picking up this option for the El Salvadorian National Team regular is an easy call. If anything, he could be one to keep an eye on as a future starter if/when Europe comes calling for Freese.

9) Max Murray

NYCFC’s first-round draft pick in the 2025 MLS Super draft didn’t see much first-team action in his rookie season. The 6’5” center back, who won an NCAA National Championship with the University of Vermont in his senior season, only saw the field under Jansen in the club’s lone USOC appearance.

But he was a consistent contributor for NYCFC II in MLS NEXT Pro, making 21 starts and even bagging two goals, bringing back memories of the minutes he got at the number nine earlier in his collegiate career.

Murray’s contract has options for 2026, 2027, and 2028. Currently, just one year removed from the college game, and with other center back options like Martins, Haak, Tanasijevič, Gray, and Amponsah all in contract years, it’d make sense to keep Murray around to continue his development by picking up the first of those option years in 2026. But, we’ve seen NYCFC be ruthless in these areas before…

10) Nico Cavallo

Of all the players Jansen entrusted with first-team minutes early on this season, Nico Cavallo’s involvement was probably the most surprising.

As the 88th pick in the MLS Super Draft ahead of the 2025 season, there were no guarantees that the former University of Virginia left back would even make the roster. Yet, on opening day, he found himself defending Lionel Messi in a 21-minute cameo against Inter Miami in his professional debut — life comes at you fast.

Cavallo went on to make 17 appearances for the first team this season, featuring almost exclusively for NYCFC proper rather than the II’s, where his fellow draft picks saw most of their time. He’s got room to grow for sure, but as a serviceable MLS fullback straight out of the box, you have to celebrate Cavallo as a huge value add as far as 3rd Round draft picks go. It’d be a surprise if his option for 2026 wasn’t picked up, and he has options down the road for 2027 and 2028 as well.

11) Prince Amponsah

As a Bronx native and as the 16th homegrown signing in NYCFC history, Amponsah’s club roots are as strong as anyone who’s ever pulled on the shirt – just check out what he had to say on the day of his signing:

“This is something I’ve been working toward my entire life, and to achieve it with my boyhood club makes it even more special. Growing up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, I’ve always dreamed of representing not just myself and my family, but my city. Wearing these colors and this badge means everything to me.”

Rather than signing a homegrown contract straight out of high school, like other academy standouts had before him, Amponsah opted for the college route, playing a stellar four-year career with Wake Forrest, where he captained the side and won ACC Defender of the Year honors en route to a Conference Championship in 2024. After his senior season, he was signed as an NYCFC homegrown player before he could enter the draft, allowing the club to sign him on more favorable terms, while ensuring he wasn’t snapped up by another MLS side.

Thus far, his senior career for the club has only consisted of NYCFC II minutes, where he featured as a left center back alongside Max Murray this season, making 20 starts. For the sake of club DNA and the feel-good story in general, here’s to hoping NYCFC picks up this option.

12) Alex Rando

Alex Rando has been with NYCFC for a long time now, coming through NYCFC’s academy before signing a first-team contract in 2024 as a homegrown signing. While he’s yet to make a first-team appearance, He’s suited up 60 times for NYCFC II, making a career-high 18 appearances in 2024, before seeing his role diminish slightly in 2025, where he saw the field just 10 times across this year’s 28-match MLS Next Pro season.

What he may lack in minutes, he might just make up for in NYCFC academy lore, winning two U-19 US Development Academy National Championships alongside names like Gio Reyna, James Sands, Joe Scally, and Haak.

Professional sports are a cutthroat industry, and it can be tough to prove your worth without regular minutes. But, given he’s battling for a 3rd-string GK role with 32-year-old Gregg Ranjitsingh, Rando likely offers more value than his counterpart as NYCFC looks towards the future with their goalkeeping depth.

NYCFC players out on loan

13) Talles Magno

It wasn’t too long ago that Talles Magno was seen as this club’s next great attacker. Landing as high as #3 on MLS’s annual “22 Under 22” list, Talles Magno dazzled fans and pundits alike with his natural dribbling ability and classic Brazilian flair.

But, lots of the Talles Magno hype train was built upon an assumption that his clear talent would, at some point, translate to tangible output by way of goals and assists. Now, at 23 years old, and over a year into his loan spell at Corinthians, that question of production remains.

Back in Brazil, he racked up 15 goal involvements in 65 appearances for O Timão, with the majority of those appearances coming as a substitute. It probably didn’t help Talles Magno’s case for minutes that his new club signed superstar attacker Memphis Depay shortly after the NYCFC loanee’s arrival, relegating the forward to the bench.

Talles Magno’s current loan spell is set to expire this December, following the conclusion of the Brasilerão, which raises interesting questions surrounding next steps for the attacker.

With Lee and Cushing both gone, the very figures that ushered Magno out the door have left NYCFC themselves. And, with Alonso Martínez out for much of 2026, and Pascal Jansen’s knack for building confidence in young players, is there a world where Talles Magno makes a shock return to NYCFC this winter?

Probably not. But you can’t tell me that wouldn’t be at least a little bit fun.

NYCFC could seek to extend his loan or find a new loan destination for him, but with his contract expiring in 2027, they wouldn’t want to risk losing Talles Magno on a free transfer. So, the more likely scenario is that NYCFC looks to sell their asset while it still carries some sell-on value — it’s the reason they allowed their DP to walk on loan in the first place.

With NYCFC signing Talles Magno for a reported $8 million back in 2021, you have to wonder what number they have in mind to offload a talent that they’ll likely lose money on, instead of reaping a profit from.

14) James Sands

NYCFC’s first-ever homegrown is yet to leave the nest in an official capacity, even if Sands has flown around the world a few times in search of his next permanent home. His 2022 loan spell at Rangers started well, but ended poorly after falling out of favor with their then-new manager, Michael Beale, and seeing his loan cut short. After two seasons of consistent minutes back in NYC, the “Guy from Rye” was given a second crack at Europe in his latest loan spell at St. Pauli, arriving at the Bundesliga club in January of last season.

There, it didn’t take long for Sands to establish himself as a starter, where he battled in the heart of a defensive-minded side seeking to stave off relegation in their first Bundesliga campaign since 2010. But, just a few weeks after winning the starting slot, Sands suffered a “complex” injury that required surgery to repair a broken fibula and torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), shutting him down for the season. Sands stayed with his new teammates in Germany to rehab his injury, and saw his loan extended while he watched his side secure survival, finishing three points above the relegation zone.

This year, with St. Pauli back in the Bundesliga and Sands back in the Starting XI, the NYCFC loanee has impressed again, boasting impressive metrics on the defensive side of the ball, mainly in tackles, aerial duels, and defensive actions. St. Pauli are, again, in the thick of a relegation battle for 2025/26, and will rely upon such defensive efforts from Sands heavily this year if they hope to retain their top-flight status.

The loan extension agreed upon during Sands’ rehab ensures he’ll stay in Germany through June of 2026, making any sort of return to NYCFC before then very unlikely. At this stage, it seems more a question of “when” Sands will be sold permanently, rather than “if.”

15) Jovan Mijatović

What to do with Jovan Mijatović? Signed for $10 million ahead of the 2024 season, the hype surrounding the young striker from Belgrade was short-lived. One day, he’s getting Champions League minutes at Red Star and drawing comparisons to Wayne Rooney, and the next, he’s struggling to get a touch in MLS NEXT Pro for NYCFC II.

After a frustrating 2024 season that saw Mijatović struggle with injury and visa issues, he departed on loan to OH Leuven, after making just 15 appearances for NYCFC and scoring a single goal in Leagues Cup.

At Leuven, though, it hasn’t gotten much better for the young Serbian. He made 20 appearances so far in the Belgian first division, with just eight of those as starts, and again scoring just a single goal for his new side.

His current loan expires in June 2026, but a return to NYCFC then feels unlikely. Of course, there will be a vacancy at the center forward position with Martínez set to miss much of the 2026 season with his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. But even with such an opening, it’s hard to say Mijatović has shown NYCFC fans that he’s capable of shouldering such a goalscoring load through his performances at NYCFC, NYCFC II, or OH Leuven.

Jovan was sent on this loan spell to get him more minutes and to salvage his transfer value, but grinding away as a sparingly used substitute for a relegation-battling Belgian side is hardly checking either of those boxes. Given the money CFG invested in this kid already, they’ll be wise to find a new location for him with two additional years left on his contract.

NYCFC players to watch

16) Alsono Martínez

Martínez tearing his ACL during a playoff-interrupting international break has to go down as one of the most devastating injuries in NYCFC history. The injury didn’t just leave NYCFC shorthanded for their upcoming elimination games, but also cut down the centerpiece of NYCFC’s attack going into 2026.

Martínez’s 21 goals in all competitions last year marked his second impressive season in a row for NYCFC, improving on his 18-goal campaign a season prior. That sort of output rarely goes unnoticed.

Dutch giants Ajax were reportedly interested in signing the Costa Rican forward at the end of the Secondary Transfer Window this past summer, but NYCFC was unwilling to sell their main goal threat without time to sign a proper replacement. It meant Martínez would stick around the five boroughs through the end of the 2025 campaign, but raised questions surrounding the club’s plans for the striker as the offseason approached.

But, with the striker now likely to be sidelined at least through August 2026, he’ll be injured for MLS’s next two transfer windows, making any move away from NYCFC unlikely. By the time he returns from injury, he’ll be just a month or two out from his 29th birthday, making age a considerable factor for any potential suitors.

So, while his injury is undoubtedly devastating for NYCFC, their fans, and Martínez himself, it may just keep the striker in NYCFC colors for the time being, with the Tico’s contract running until 2027, with options through 2029. It’s, at the very least, a silver lining for fans who dreaded the thought of their star striker being sold in the coming windows.

17) Matt Freese

When you play as well as Matt Freese has for the past few seasons, the conversation surrounding a move to Europe is inevitable. Freese, who has a German passport, has been no exception, having already sparked interest from German and Dutch sides.

It’s been a huge year for Freese, who started the year outside of Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT player pool, but ends it as his apparent starting goalkeeper just months ahead of the World Cup. If Freese’s performances for NYCFC were enough to raise European eyebrows, fans can only imagine what starting at a World Cup on home soil will do for Freese’s demand.

NYCFC understood this, however, and got ahead of any potential transfers by locking down their No 1 on a new contract that runs until 2030. It’s a win-win of a deal that’ll see Freese take home a nicer paycheck, and see NYCFC retain some bargaining chips when it comes to any future approaches from other clubs.

With Pochettino showing no obvious favoritism for or against players in MLS, and with Freese already in the driver’s seat for the starting National Team slot, there’s no obvious motivation for NYCFC’s goalkeeper to seek a move this offseason. After the World Cup, however, don’t be surprised if the Matt Freese rumor mill starts swirling once again.

Tough Choices: New York City FC’s 2026 roster decisions begin now