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.
With the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror, here are the final grades for New York City FC players and the front office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 21-year-old winger had the best season of his career. So why does it feel like he didn't meet expectations?
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.
The 18-year-old had the most impressive Homegrown debut season in club history, and the strongest year for a teenager at New York City FC since a 19-year-old Jack Harrison had 10 goal involvements in 2016.
The 17-year-old Homegrown made his First Team debut in 2025, and had some promising looks late in the season. The future looks bright for Carrizo, even if he logged just 83 minutes all year and has yet to make a start.
The 25-year-old Designated Player bolstered the creative side of NYCFC's attack and saved his best and biggest goals for the MLS Cup Playoffs after arriving at midseason.
Andrés Perea had a breakout year in 2025, but after suffering a leg fracture in the MLS Cup Playoffs his immediate future with the club is unclear.
The ageless 38-year-old made 34 starts – and the third-most minutes for New York City FC in league games – showing again why he's so important to this squad.
Big Bird made the fewest appearances and played the fewest minutes since he ascended to the First Team in 2019. We can only guess how many goals involvements – and wins – he would have contributed to this New York City FC squad in 2025.
The defensive midfielder is NYCFC's metronome, calm under pressure and smart in possession. He's also soccer's Energizer Bunny, logging 5,044 minutes between playing in Belgium, MLS, and the Australia men's national team.
The season began brightly for the 20-year-old fullback, but he ended 2025 as an unused substitute in 13 of New York City FC's final 20 matches. Will he fight for more minutes in 2026, or is a transfer away up next for Ilenič?