The New York Red Bulls are picking up a head of steam in this summer’s transfer market. Jesse Marsch and Denis Hamlett have picked up 26-year-old winger/forward Muhamed Keita. This, in addition to the acquisition of center back Fidel Escobar announced yesterday, provides further reinforcements to a team poised for a strong end to the regular season.
New York Red Bulls Sign Muhamed Keita
The Player
Keita joins the Red Bulls from Polish club Lech Poznan in the Ekstraklasa- the top flight of Polish football. However, he spent almost his entire time at Poznan on loan in Norway, most recently at Valerenga. Keita has scored eight goals on three different teams since January 2016.
The following contains the Red Bulls’ official press release on the signing:
NEWS: @NewYorkRedBulls Complete Transfer of Forward Muhamed Keita
📰 ➡️ https://t.co/3ujdb7x8VU#RBNY pic.twitter.com/pr2domc7uD
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 28, 2017
According to said press release, the player has received his P-1 Visa. This means Red Bull fans can look forward to his debut very soon. He will most likely be utilized on the wing, which is already a crowded position for RBNY. Fans will likely see a lot of rotation on the wings as the staff evaluate which of the five (ish) wingers will be most effective.
Transfermrkt values Keita at just over $700,000. He may be one of the more expensive players on the Red Bulls roster if this fee estimation is accurate to what the Red Bulls paid for him.
Keita will wear the number ten, and will be the first to do so since Lloyd Sam was traded to DC United, another winger. Those are big boots to fill, but the club seems confident in Keita.
The Future
Marsch was asked in a brief presser yesterday about the remainder of the transfer window. The coach clearly states that RBNY are likely not finished adding players, and the front office has multiple targets. One possible addition could be NJ native Dilly Duka, who was recently waived by Columbus Crew SC. In the same video, Marsch does not shy away from the fact that he and his staff are evaluating Duka, and it is more than just a casual training.
The Jesse Marsch video can be found here.
It seems now that there may be no limit to where the Red Bulls can go this season. The offense is coming together and tactics are becoming more effective. The club has announced two important signings in less than 24 hours, and no one knows how many more are on the horizon.
In 2016, the Seattle Sounders signed Nicolas Lodeiro to provide offense on their borderline squad. He spearheaded a launch into playoff position, and the Sounders, of course, won MLS Cup. Keita, or any one of the signings in this window, could become that ingredient needed to bring New York their first MLS Cup. Or, that player may already wear an RBNY kit (AKA Daniel Royer).
There is no way to know what is to come, but things are trending upwards in the Metro camp.
