Update: New York City FC announced the signing of Aiden O'Neill on April 25.
New York City FC looks to have a Transfer Deadline Day signing on its hands.
Multiple reports emerged this morning from overseas indicating NYCFC and Standard Liege have struck a deal and 26-year-old Australian defensive midfielder Aiden O'Neill will be moving to New York for a reported €2.5 million fee.
The reports came from Kevin Sauvage of Sudinfo and Australian sports reporter James Dodd, who each indicated the transfer is agreed and set to be announced, and who each mentioned the €2.5 million price paid by New York City.
O'Neill has not been listed on the matchday squad for any of Standard Liege's three most recent matches as they play out the final stages of Belgium's Jupiler Pro League playoffs to try to qualify for next season's European competitions. That included a match yesterday, April 22, against OH Leuven.
Following the loss to Leuven, Sudinfo reports that Standard manager Ivan Leko addressed O'Neill's looming exit, Leko saying in part, "He is leaving and it is a situation that we are going through...we understand that he wants to join a club that made him a good offer. Hoping then that it will be a win-win situation for all parties."
O'Neill made 54 career appearances for Standard Liege since joining the troubled Belgian club, and reportedly revised and extended his contract with Standard in September 2024 while the club's 777 Partners-related financial difficulties were still near their peak.
Andrew Leigh
Initial reports linking O'Neill to New York City emerged one week ago on April 15, with Standard said to want to receive €3 million to part with their captain. The two sides appear to have met directly in the middle on a transfer fee, and New York City looks to have gotten one transfer over the finish line just before the MLS Primary Transfer Window closes – later today, April 23.
NYCFC Sporting Director David Lee will hope he's acquiring a quality replacement for James Sands, the team's standout Homegrown defensive midfielder who left to join FC St. Pauli at the beginning of January. O'Neill looks like he fits the part and he also brings lots of international experience with him, having featured for Australia's national team 17 times.
New York City has never signed a player from Australia, so O'Neill would break ground there, but he's not a strange face inside City Football Group. O'Neill played for Melbourne City FC, a CFG sister club, for three seasons, while also spending time in England with Burnley FC, Fleetwood Town, and Oldham Athletic.
O'Neill is experienced but still in his prime at age-26, and he'll arrive in MLS with the expectation that he can help stabilize New York City's midfield spine and bring some veteran experience to Pascal Jansen's young side.
