It looks like Pascal Janesen will be reunited with one of the cornerstones of the Ferencváros defense that he took to the UEFA Europa League when he managed the team before joining New York City FC.
According to Hungarian publication csakfoci.hu, NYCFC has come to terms with Ferencvárosi TC, better known as Ferencváros, to sign 26-year-old Raul Gustavo, a left-footed center back from Brazil who stands at 6’3″. NYCFC will reportedly pay a €1 million fee to Ferencváros, which works out to roughly $1.16 million, or five times the €200,000 that the club spent to sign him in July 2024. Transfermarkt values the player at €1.5 million.
New York City has yet to make an announcement about the player, and the Major League Soccer summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until next week, on July 24. But Raul Gustavo now follows NYCFC on Instagram, which in this business is as good as a “Here we go!”
Raul Gustavo looks to be the replacement the club lined up for Birk Risa, who left on July 14. The first Raul Gustavo-to-NYCFC rumor surfaced back on July 8, and was reported here in the Hudson River Blue Transfer Tracker.
This news comes on the heels of NYCFC signing attacking midfielder Nico Fernández Mercau to a Designated Player contract. The club made the official announcement on July 11, but HRB reported the rumored transfer on July 6.
Raul Gusatvo made 11 league starts for Ferencváros after joining mid-July of last year, scoring two goals and taking 11 shots over 954 minutes played, per FBRef. He last appeared for the club in their 1-1 draw with Diosgyori VTK on March 30, when he was positioned at left-back.
The defender made five appearances in the UEFA Europa League, going the full 90′ against Tottenham Hotspur on October 3, against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 23, and against Viktoria Plzeň on February 13.
0:00
Raul Gustavo scores for Ferencváros | Courtesy Raul Gustavo
Raul Gustavo joined Ferencváros from Corinthians in Brazil’s Série A, where NYCFC Designated Player Talles Magno currently plays on loan. The defender made 24 league starts over four seasons with Corinthians, and seven starts while on loan at Esporte Clube Bahia in 2023.
This post will be updated as new information becomes available.
I think I’m more excited about this than the Nico signing. We just have never been the same since AC left, and it would sure be nice to have that be a solid part of the team again.
Missing that lockdown defense that allowed just 36 goals in 2021?
lol, fair point. But I’m more worried about this team’s ability to protect a one goal lead than recreate an offense than can always overcome an equalizer. We’re missing a lot more than just a single piece on offense. My hope is that another really good CB can make a bigger difference than yet another promising but inconsistent wide player. 😉
Big dude. I like it. We’re starting to see some pieces coming together. Those 10 games after Leagues Cup. That’s the season. We can redeem everything over those 10 games.