New York City FC defender Christian McFarlane has permanently made the move to England’s premier club Manchester City according to the team. McFarlane had been linked with City for some time, now making the move at the age of 18.
McFarlane joined the club in 2021 but spent a majority of his time with New York City FC II in MLS Next Pro. He made 20 total appearances for the club in 2023 before being promoted to the first team under head coach Nick Cushing this past campaign. He made a total of eight appearances and was earmarked for England’s top flight division early on in the year once he became 18 years old.
“This moment reflects the amount of exceptional talent we have in New York and underscores our responsibility to continue to identify talent and provide the best pathways possible to as many of those young players,” said City Sporting Director David Lee.
One concern for City is their lack of depth following McFarlane’s departure. Unlike crosstown rivals New York Red Bulls, the team has yet to fully cultivate their reserve club into making MLS starters. Thus, that time and effort, while fruitful for McFarlane and others, leaves the club at a loss during an unsure time in 2025.
New head coach Pascal Jansen will now be missing a player that could have seen significant minutes on the field. Whether or not the club can reach into the market and fill that gap remains to be seen but we are just days away from the close of the transfer window with little news on potential moves for the Pigeons.
photo by Anthony Merced