Position: Central Midfielder, Central Defensive Midfielder, Central Defender
Age: 23
Key Stat: 6 MLS starts — 4 in the final games of the 2024 regular season.
Justin Haak has just one more year left on his New York City FC contract. The third Homegrown in the club’s history, Haak totaled 776 minutes over 15 matches played last season, 133 less than his total in 2023.
The 23-year-old has been at NYCFC for six seasons but has never been more than a substitute who fills in when called upon. Despite being seen as a fill-in player, Haak had an impressive end to the 2024 season, starting three of New York City’s four playoff games plus the final four games of the regular season.
Could that indicate that he’s ready to step into the position vacated by the departure of James Sands to FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, and become the team’s everyday No 6? That would mean Haak playing more than three times as much as he did last year: Sands played 2556 minutes in 2024, and 2168 minutes the year before. But the defensive midfielder said last season he wants to be a starter, and this could be his chance to finally achieve that goal.
What went right last season
During that key four-game stretch for Haak last season, he became NYCFC’s Swiss army knife due to his ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch when needed. With Birk Risa dealing with a nagging injury, Haak filled in at center-back in the 1-5 win over the Red Bulls, and in the following 3-2 upset victory against FC Cincinnati. Risa was back in the lineup for the next game, a 3-1 win over Nashville SC, but Haak was in the lineup anyway when he started as a defensive midfielder in place of the suspended Sands.
Those three games were probably Haak’s best performances in a New York City kit. He dealt with the Red Bulls’ high press effectively in the derby win at Red Bull Arena, and he helped frustrate 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta as Cincinnati struggled against NYCFC.
Even more impressive, Haak stuffed the stat sheet against Nashville: He completed 90 percent of his passes (27/30), won five tackles, made four interceptions, had two blocks, six ball recoveries, and won all seven of his duels, six of them being on the ground. That outstanding performance awarded him an 8.1 rating from FotMob, the second-highest of any New York City player in the game.
That performance gave him the opportunity to start in three of the team’s four playoff games. Former head coach Nick Cushing put out his typical NYCFC lineup against FC Cincinnati in Game 1, a 1-0 defeat on the road. But in Game 2 — a win-or-go-home scenario for New York City at Citi Field — Haak started over Risa at center-back. He stuffed the stat sheet once again: Haak completed 83 percent of his passes (29/35), intercepted 10 passes, had one block, four clearances, nine ball recoveries, and won seven out of his 11 ground duels. That resulted in a FotMob score of 8.3, the second-highest only behind Santiago RodrĂguez.
What to expect in 2025
Does Haak’s promising end to last season guarantee him a starting role for this season? The answer is not as a center-back, as Thiago Martins and Risa will likely partner in the defense this season. But with the departure of Sands, it is possible that Haak could become the starting No 6.
AndrĂ©s Perea can play as a No 6, but he’s more effective as a box-to-box midfielder, which would allow Haak to slot in above the center-backs.
After the season-ending defeat to the Red Bulls, Haak told the media that he is “looking to become a starter somewhere that’s (here at NYCFC) or somewhere else.”
Justin Haak on tonight’s defeat and what he can take from his performances next season. pic.twitter.com/yZmaAPowvV
— Matthew Mangam (@MatthewMangam) November 24, 2024
With NYCFC’s season set to begin in a little more than two weeks, it looks like Haak will stay in New York in the final season of his contract, but the club can extend it to 2026. After New York City wrapped up its second week of preseason in Santa Barbara, California, and before the team’s first friendly against Real Salt Lake, Haak spoke about the upcoming season and his excitement for the season-opener against Inter Miami on February 22.
Midfielder Justin Haak discusses #NYCFC's preseason and his thoughts on the upcoming 2025 season.
Video courtesy of @newyorkcityfc pic.twitter.com/QRmbMULprL
— Matthew Mangam (@MatthewMangam) January 23, 2025
Under new head coach Pascal Jansen, it’s uncertain what Haak’s exact role will be at NYCFC this season. But if he can play like he did towards the end of the season, Haak could very well be a starter day in and day out.
This is a quality young man who loves New York. He has worked his tail off to improve, and it shows. He doesn’t complain, and he was right to express his desire to become an every day starter after last season ended. Every player wants that. With Sands out on loan, I hope the club presents him that opportunity. Let’s go #80!!
He was so good down the stretch last campaign. And I was shocked at how big and strong he got as the year progressed. Dude was driving iron for real.It remains to be seen how Pascal wants to set up the squad, but I’d be very surprised indeed if Justin doesn’t slide into the Sands role. The big question for me is the other pivot — Keaton or Perea? They’ll certainly alternate quite a bit, depending on the opponent, but one of them is going to be the starter on a regular basis.