The first player David Lee signed after he was named New York City FC sporting director in November, 2019, was a 17-year-old Academy product named Tayvon Gray. It was a canny decision: Gray has gone on to make 117 starts, logging 7,616 minutes after becoming a mainstay for the NYCFC defense.
Lee next signed Keaton Parks, inking the loanee on a permanent transfer, then he signed Gudi Thórarinsson, picking up the defender on a free transfer. The following day he signed Gedion Zelalem, and New York City became the latest club to take a gamble on the former Arsenal wunderkind — and lose.
And so began Lee's run as the club's Sporting Director, a tenure that lasted nearly six years and saw him sign 56 players. When news broke of Lee's departure for Sporting Kansas City, where he will become President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, the contributors here at Hudson River Blue looked at his legacy, and how his signings both created a winning culture within the team and could sometimes frustrate a fanbase that wanted more from the second-biggest club in the City Football Group empire.
We also posted a Reader Poll, and asked you to tell us what you feel were Lee's top signings, and his biggest flops. Your consensus choices for best and worst signing top each list below, taking the clear #1 spot in both categories. We filled out the rest based on the Reader Poll and on our own internal HRB staff debates and discussions.
John Baney
The 5 worst signings by David Lee
5. Mounsef Bakrar
When Mounsef Bakrar was brought in at the end of the 2023 season for a reported $2 million from NK Istra in Croatia, it was to be the team's franchise striker. But one of the most likable players ever to suit up for New York City also proved to be one of the club's least-productive goalscorers. It wasn't just the poor overall production – Bakrar had just nine goals and one assist over 59 appearances for NYCFC, averaging one goal involvement for every 270 minutes – it was the painfully long gaps between scoring. He went 12 appearances without a goal to start the 2024 season, then 10 appearances without a goal to finish the year.
