Tuesday morning NYCFC announced the signings of Andoni Iraola from Athletic Bilbao and Jose Angel Tasande from Manchester City.
Iraola joins on a free transfer and will be eligible for selection following the opening of the Major League Soccer secondary transfer window on July 8 pending receipt of his P1 Visa and a physical.
“I have only played for one club throughout my whole career and I knew after leaving Bilbao my first choice was always to play in the U.S. and in New York,” Iraola said. “It’s a very exciting opportunity for me to join New York City FC in our inaugural season. This is a team with huge potential, passionate supporters, and I really wanted to be part of it.”
Though there are still matches to be played before Iraola joins the team, NYCFC can feel good about signing Iraola, who brings a veteran leadership presence to a back line that has been susceptible during the first few months of the season.
Iraola brings with him twelve years of experience with an Athletic Bilbao side for whom he made 510 appearances over twelve years. He has been a highly reliable presence on Bilbao’s back line, appearing in thirty or more matches in eleven of his twelve campaigns with the team, while earning seven caps with the Spanish national team.
“I think it’s fantastic to be able to add a player with that much experience and quality at a critical time of the season,” New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis said. “We are adding a versatile player like Andoni who is comfortable playing in a number of different positions within the team. We are adding a great professional and a very experienced player.”
NYCFC will also benefit from signing Iraola to a non-Designated Player contract, meaning that they will still have one open slot following the arrival of Frank Lampard in July.
New York City FC’s other new signing, Jose Angel Tasande, also known as Angelino, is an 18-year old Spanish youth international and a member of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad. He will also be available for selection beginning July 8, pending the receipt of his ITC and P1 Visa.
“I’m very happy for the opportunity that Manchester City and New York City FC have given me. To be able to play in New York is a great opportunity for me and I am eager to get started. I can’t wait to get to New York and join my new teammates,” Angelino said. “I know Shay Facey is doing really well for the team and loving the experience. The atmosphere at Yankee Stadium seems amazing so I’m really looking forward to playing in front of our supporters.
“Being able to train and play in a professional league like MLS, and learn from Coach Kreis will help me develop further as a young player. I’m determined to make the most of my opportunity and give everything I can to help the team in our first season.”
For an expansion club such as NYCFC, finding the right mix between youth and experience will be vital as they enter Major League Soccer’s summer stretch, where international call-ups and an increased slate of matches will test their depth and chemistry.
Jason Kreis seemed very impressed by the young defender, who has shown well for Manchester City’s EDS, citing his work rate and skill set as attributes that could make him a very important part of New York City FC’s squad.
“Angelino is a talented young player that I became very familiar with when I spent my five months over in Manchester,” New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis said. “Immediately, he was somebody that I liked. I was impressed with his character, the way he trained and the effort he gave to the team on the pitch. I couldn’t be more pleased that we’ve been able to bring him into this squad.
“Angelino is very hungry to move forward in his career and has a fighting mentality that you want to see in a young professional. For a team that wants to play the way we do, he has all the attributes you’d want to see in an outside back. Defensively he’s very good in 1-v-1 battles but is also effective in getting forward and serving good balls into the box.”
Sporting Director Claudio Reyna echoed the sentiments of Kreis.
“Angelino’s development in the last 18 months in Manchester has been tremendous,” Reyna said. “He has excellent technical qualities on the ball and plays with a competitive spirit that will fit in nicely to the team.”
How quickly that competitive spirit can earn him MLS minutes will be interesting to see, given NYCFC’s injury-troubled and seemingly ever-changing back four.
While NYCFC upgrade their defense with two new signings and competition for playing time increases, the next few weeks will be vital for New York’s current crop of defenders to prove themselves against competition like Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls.
