Position: Central Defender
Age: 26
Key Stat: 14th percentile in Defensive Actions per FotMob
It wasn't the best season for Birk Risa.
When the left-footed central defender joined New York City FC in July of 2023, he got off to a strong start. Risa made 10 appearances that year, all starts, and quickly became an important part of the team's buildup play. According to that small sample of games he was in the 79th percentile in Progressive Passes, 77th in Progressive Carries, and 78th in Aerials Won per FBRef.
So what if Risa was down in the 24th percentile for tackles, 14th for interceptions, and 1st for blocks? New York City allowed just 39 goals that year, and was one of the best defenses in the league. Besides, he provided an assist in those 10 games, which put him in the 97th percentile.
Jump to 2024, and his ability to feed the attack faded dramatically. He had zero goal involvements in 29 appearances, was substituted off at the half in two games, and spent the final three games of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs as an unused substitute after 23-year-old Justin Haak fought his way into the Starting XI.
In other words, 2024 was not good to Risa. What should've been a solid season for the defender, who was signed from Norway's Molde FK for a reported $1 million fee, instead raised more questions than it answered.
New gaffer, who dis?
But 2025 is a new season – and New York City have a new head coach in Pascal Jansen – which gives Risa something of a clean slate. He can spend this preseason focusing on returning to form, and gaining Jansen's trust.
