Moments ago, New York City FC announced that midfielder Andrés Perea will join the club on loan from Philadelphia Union. According to the official statement, the “Philadelphia Union will receive $300,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) but will retain a portion of the player’s 2023 salary budget charge.” The statement also noted that there is no option to buy at the end of the loan.
This is NYCFC’s third significant signing of the 2023 summer transfer window, and maybe the most surprising. Earlier this month, the club announced the signing of 22-year-old Mounsef Bakrar, adding a No 9 to a team that was without a striker since tat Castellanos left for Girona FC last summer. The following week, the club added Birk Risa, a 25-year-old left-footed center-back to replace defender Alexander Callens, who also left for Girona FC.
Just last Saturday, the news dropped that star winger Gabriel Pereira left NYCFC to join Al-Rayyan in Qatar for a reported $10 million fee. Pereira was the club’s leading scorer, and his production will be missed. The rumor is that he will be replaced shortly by Julián Fernández, a highly-regarded 19-year-old prospect who plays for Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina.
Argentine winger Julián Fernández in talks to join NYCFC?
The 22-year-old Perea joined Philadelphia at the start of the season from Orlando City for a combined $850,000 in allocation money. He was thought to potentially earn a role in the Starting XI, and was given the No 6 jersey. But he made only one start in eight appearances. The central midfielder has one goal and zero assists in 2023, and has a FotMob rating of 6.7.
Perea has a guaranteed salary of $591,500 in 2023 according to the Major League Soccer Players Association. Transfermarkt values him at $2.5 million.
Born in Tampa, FL, Perea played for Atlético Nacional in Colombia (where his father was a coach) before joining Orlando in 2021. Perea also has one cap for the USMNT when he featured in the 7-0 blowout over Trinidad and Tobago in 2021.
Transfer Tracker: All 2023 NYCFC summer transfer window news and rumors
While Perea doesn’t score that often, he has smashed in a few bangers:
Here is the official statement from NYCFC:
Friday, Jul 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM
New York City Football Club (NYCFC) today announced that it has acquired Midfielder Andrés Perea on loan from the Philadelphia Union through the end of the 2023 season.
Philadelphia Union will receive $300,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) but will retain a portion of the player’s 2023 salary budget charge. There is no option to buy at the end of the loan.
Andrés Perea started his career in Colombia at Atlético Nacional as part of its youth academy and represented Colombia at the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. Following a switch of association, Perea has one appearance for the United States Men’s Nation Team (USMNT) in a 2021 friendly against Trinidad & Tobago, as well as making appearances for the USMNT U-23 squad.
NYCFC Sporting Director David Lee said: “We’re excited to have Andrés join the Club on a loan for the remainder of the season. Andrés will bring additional depth and options to our midfield as we begin a busy period of the season. He is a young and talented player who has already accumulated a lot of professional experience, both in MLS and abroad, and has a bright future ahead of him. We’re looking forward to integrating him into our group as we push towards the playoffs.’’
Perea moved to Major League Soccer (MLS) on loan to Orlando City SC in 2019 before joining the club permanently a year later. Perea was traded to the Philadelphia Union last December. The 22-year-old Midfielder has four goals and three assists across 82 MLS appearances.
Midfielder Andrés Perea said: “I am looking forward to joining New York City. It’s a Club with a history of developing players, that emphasizes attacking possession-based soccer which suits my style of play. I look forward to meeting my new teammates and everyone at the Club and hope to contribute to the team’s success this season.”
Transaction: New York City Football Club acquires Midfielder Andrés Perea on loan from Philadelphia Union through the end of the 2023 season for $300K in 2024 General Allocation Money. Philadelphia will retain a portion of the player’s 2023 salary budget charge.
Name: Andrés Perea
Position: Midfield
Height: 6’0”
Date of Birth: November 14, 2000
Age: 22
Birthplace: Tampa, USA
