New York City FC has signed another international player. Stop me if you have heard this before. Colombian midfielder Javier Calle arrives on a season-long loan agreement with an option to purchase after most recently playing for Independiente Medellín in his native country. The team will add Calle to New York City FC’s roster for the 2015 season pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Per MLS and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Calle, just 23, is coming over from a successful stint at Independiente Medellín, a team that made it to the final of the 2014 Clausura tournament. During the regular season he scored six goals in 13 appearances. He has been with Medellín since 2009 when he was just 17.
New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis commenting on the signing:
"“We are very pleased to bring Javier on board. He is a left-footed, versatile and creative player who I believe will adapt well to MLS and give us some different options in midfield. He has impressed both at club and international level and we are confident that he will continue to develop with us in New York.”"
Calle had this to say about playing for NYCFC:
"“I’m very excited to join such an amazing club and have the opportunity to play for Coach Kreis. I’m looking forward to joining my talented new teammates and my goal is to help New York City FC to succeed as quickly as possible.”"
This continues the trend of bring players to New York City with international experience. They will have a few guys on the roster with MLS experience, but a lot of their players will have to adjust to the playing style of MLS. It takes time and patience to get use to the way other teams will play you as well as how the referees will call the game. Some are quick on the whistle, while others will let you repeatedly get fouled before they stop play.
I’m not sure that this is the best way to go for NYCFC in bringing in all of these players that have not played a single minute in MLS. Maybe I am wrong, but nobody will know for sure until the season begins in the first week of March.
New York City FC is currently in Manchester, England, as they continue their preseason preparations. Their preseason schedule, courtesy of nycfc.com, is as follows:
February 10th:
St. Mirren from the Scottish Premier League at 2:00pm. St. Mirren have lifted the Scottish Cup three times in their history and won the Scottish League Cup in 2013.
February 15:
Brondby from the Danish Superligain at 7:00am.
These two games round out the team’s preseason schedule which also features two games as part of the Carolina Challenge Cup which kicks off on February 19th in Charleston.
What are your thoughts on all of the signings that New York City FC has made so far?