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.
