Editor's Picks: Hudson River Blue's Best Stories of 2025
Happy New Year! Here are 18 of our favorite articles from this past year as selected by the editorial staff at Hudson River Blue.
New York City FC
Hudson River Blue's Top 10 Stories of 2025
We published more than 750 articles in 2025: Here are the 10 most-viewed posts this year.
Episode 70: Justin Haak exits, the kit leaks, new Homegrowns and SuperDraft picks arrive
Our final episode of 2025 includes thoughts on Justin Haak to LA Galaxy, New York City FC's new 2026 kit, the recent approach to Homegrown signings, and the latest SuperDraft class.
New York City FC 2025 Final Report Card
With the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror, here are the final grades for New York City FC players and the front office.
2025 Final Grade: David Lee
David Lee did some of the best business in his NYCFC career just before leaving, bringing in Nico Fernández Mercau and Aiden O'Neill, and signing Matt Freese to an extension. But he let Justin Haak slip away, and Jovan Mijatović and Talles Magno are still on the club's books.
A tribute to Justin Haak
We look back on the Homegrown's seven-season career at New York City FC, and how his breakout 2025 established him as one of the best defensive players in Major League Soccer.
Justin Haak departs New York City FC for LA Galaxy
The 24-year-old Homegrown and Brooklyn native leaves for a one-year contract.
2025 Final Grade: Pascal Jansen
New York City FC found the exact right coach for the 2025 team, as Jansen's "Bulletproof mindset" and tactical flexibility helped the team exceed expectations.
2025 Final Grade: Seymour Reid
The 17-year-old wasn't supposed to be here: He signed with NYCFC II, not New York City FC. But the striker earned a spot on the First Team — and became the youngest goal-scorer in club history.
2025 Report Card: Alonso Martínez
El Clínico finished the season strong, cementing his place as one of the greatest goal-scorers in New York City FC history before sitting out the final playoff games with an ACL injury suffered while on international duty with Costa Rica.
2025 Final Grade: Agustín Ojeda
The 21-year-old winger had a stretch of summer productivity as an assist-maker, but Ojeda's attacking output was missing for much of the season despite his playing in all 43 of New York City FC's 2025 matches.
New York City FC's new 2026 away kit leaks
It looks like NYCFC will go back to having a dark blue-dominant away jersey in 2026, bringing back memories of the Gotham Kit the club wore during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Justin Haak leaves New York City FC to sign with LA Galaxy: Report
The 24-year-old from Brooklyn and third-ever New York City FC Homegrown player is reportedly going cross-country to sign as a free agent with LA Galaxy.
2025 Final Grade: Julián Fernández
The 21-year-old winger had the best season of his career. So why does it feel like he didn't meet expectations?
2025 Final Grade: Hannes Wolf
The Austrian got off to a hot start and became one of New York City FC's main scoring threats, but faded as the season went on.
Kamran Acito signs with New York City FC as Homegrown player
The 21-year-old central defender is originally from Manhattan, played in the NYCFC Academy, made three appearances for NYCFC II in 2022, and just completed a college soccer career at Duke.