The one player David Lee needs to sign

The 2024 edition of New York City FC were much better than the squad we saw take the field in 2023, but this roster still needs an upgrade or two if the club are to be serious contenders to win the league title this year.

Which is why the contributors here at Hudson River Blue decided to weigh in on what single position Sporting Director David Lee should prioritize above all others this transfer window. Note that we're looking at a filling position of need, not signing a specific player.

After all, what executive doesn't love getting unsolicited advice from the press? Read on to see what one position Lee must address if New York City are to return to the to top of the Eastern Conference.

Central Defensive Midfielder

Originally, I thought the biggest need for NYCFC this offseason would be a difference-maker in attack. But, after the recent departure of James Sands to FC St. Pauli, there’s now a massive hole to fill at the base of midfield. Sands did so much of NYCFC’s off-ball grit work on his own, so replacing that much defensive effort will be paramount for Pascal Jansen. Given NYCFC’s recent history of replacing lost talent, I have a hunch they could look to fill this role internally at first — likely through the talents of Justin Haak and Andrés Perea.

But neither of these options is a perfect solution for me. Perea functions better as a No 8 than as a No 6, and Haak was flourishing at center back come the end of last season — CDM might be Haak’s preferred position in the past, but shifting him from the back line into the base of midfield would not only weaken our center back core, it would also thrust Haak into an area of the field where NYCFC have given him little opportunity to date. I think the most logical thing to do would be to go out and get a starting quality No 6 this winter, and avoid playing the waiting game that doomed NYCFC in 2023. – John Baney

Central Defensive Midfielder

My original answer would have been a U22 Initiative center-back, but Sands leaving makes this feel like the top priority, to echo John above. The new NYCFC manager likes a 4-2-3-1, historically. I’m not convinced pairing Keaton Parks with either Perea or Haak is the right way to handle the absence of a player in Sands who excels at winning tackles and aerial duels and completes 87% of the 50-60 passes he attempts per match. 

Bringing in a like-for-like No 6 as a TAM Player (like Sands, who earned a little over $1 million in salary in 2024) would make a lot of sense. Yes, there are in-house options, and there would still be minutes available for both Perea and Haak even with this signing given Haak’s strong showing as a center-back late in 2024, and Perea’s ability to function as a No 6 or No 8. It wouldn’t necessarily be the most attractive or sexy signing early in the Pascal Jansen Era, but a proven addition that can be expected to replicate something close to what the team got from Sands would smooth over a lot of concerns heading into the 2025 season. — Andrew Leigh

Left Wing

Or a player capable of playing on BOTH wings, and maybe as a No 10 (cough-cough, Antoine Griezmann). That’s because Santiago Rodríguez must return to his preferred position as a No 10 or Second Striker. He proved during the second half of the season that he’s capable of playing on the wing, managing seven goals and two assists in 20 matches, the Uruguayan was still more effective as an attacking midfielder: Before Malachi Jones's injury and Talles Magno's departure, Rodríguez played 18 matches in attacking midfield, scoring nine and assisting a further four.

Rodríguez's ability to contribute at both positions is a testament to his versatility, but with Maxi Moralez aging out, and with Jones as the winger-in-waiting, bringing in a First Team-quality left winger and moving Rodríguez back to the No 10 should be a high priority. — Mark Radigan

Left Back

NYCFC need a left-back who is more defensively strong and natural than Kevin O’Toole, who held the starting spot for the majority of the 2024 season. Nick Cushing’s tactical switch to a back-three midway through the 2022 season propelled NYCFC to an Eastern Conference Final appearance, with O’Toole unlocking the left flank as a wingback/pseudo-winger.

But since then, the team returned to the more traditional back-four, which saw O’Toole as a standard left-back. His best attributes are on the attacking end, and it feels as if he’s slightly out of position. With the team still officially coach-less there isn’t a set system at the moment, but the City Football Group style usually includes a natural left back, and Lee should sign a player who fits the system more comfortably. – Noah Kassell-Yung

Playmaker

When Maxi Moralez finally returned from his ACL injury last season, NYCFC found a new sense of identity offensively. Yes, Santi Rodríguez had a great season and some outstanding performances, but Moralez’s passing and style of play are like none other. With the 37-year-old nearing the end of his career, New York City needs another playmaker at the No 10 role. 

We saw Rodríguez on the left and Moralez in the middle a lot last season, but that could change. And if Moralez is to retire this winter, the club would desperately need a true replacement for him – you can’t pin it all on Rodríguez to replicate what Moralez brought to the team. The arrival of a new head coach raises some questions throughout the lineup, but a playmaker-in-waiting is a necessity. — Matthew Mangam

Left Back

I’m going to second Noah here. I think that a playmaker is definitely needed, but left-back is the most important position to strengthen this off-season. Especially in today’s game, in which full-backs are pivotal in transition play and being dangerous offensively, a replacement for O’Toole who can play on both sides of the ball is needed. 

Look at the prowess on the opposite side of the pitch, with the likes of either Tayvon Gray or Mitja Ilenič adding to the attack. A left-back who can match that skill offensively would do wonders for this team when it comes to further strengthening their style of play and identity. 

I want to shout out to the women over at Brooklyn FC and Head Coach Jessica Silva, who are doing wonders in their first season with that position. The women’s and men’s games have differences, for sure. But it’s very fun to watch how well-equipped BKFC are when it comes to playing from the back and creating chances in the attacking third, and the high demand placed on their full-backs. This style of football can be risky, but very rewarding when done with the right pieces. – Takashi Williams

Central Defender

The goalkeeping heroics of Matt Freese papered over some poor performances by the NYCFC defense in 2024. The team allowed 49 goals in 2024, which is the most since 2016, and 10 more than the 39 allowed in 2023. If you factor in Freese’s 8.9 goals prevented (second-best in MLS), the total this season should have been higher. That's no bueno, as they say in La Paz.

New York City FC | Goals Allowed

The good news: Thiago Martins is one of the most intelligent central defenders in the league — his positioning and ability to read the game are key assets, as is his surprising speed off the ball. But he’s not a hard man, as they say in England, and he needs to be partnered with the kind of big, physical center-back that strikers hate to face. Birk Risa isn’t that player, and Strahinja Tanasijević didn’t show himself to be an everyday starter. Justin Haak has all the makings of an excellent center-back, but with the departure this week of James Sands for the Bundesliga, he’s currently the team’s best choice to become the starting No 6.

That means it’s up to Lee to find a left-footed central defender who’s 1) comfortable with the ball, 2) well-versed in the dark arts, and 3) capable of scoring a set-piece goal (or four) if this New York City are to return to form and once again have one of the best defenses in the league. — Oliver Strand