NYCFC Close to Signing Striker Moussa Sylla
New York City FC seems to have identified a potential successor for goal scorer Alonso Martinez.
Reports emerging over the weekend suggest that 26-year-old Mali striker Moussa Sylla is nearing a deal to join the team in New York.
Sylla recently relocated to the U.S. after spending the last two seasons with Schalke in Germany’s second division, where he managed to play 17 matches this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Notably, Sylla was absent for Schalke’s game on Sunday. The club posted a message on social media indicating that he was “not part of the matchday squad due to a pending transfer” and confirmed they reached a “principal agreement,” though they didn’t specify the destination.
NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen hinted last week at the club’s commitment to find a replacement for Martinez, who’s been sidelined due to injury. “We really want to identify someone who fits perfectly into our squad dynamics,” he mentioned during a pre-season media session. Jansen added that he’s been actively discussing this with the board and coaching staff, expressing hope for a speedy resolution.
In another interview, new athletic director Todd Dunivant shared that the team is “putting in serious effort” to bolster the roster with additional talent.
According to reports from Sky Sports Germany, the confirmed fee for Sylla’s transfer is approximately $7.1 million, with part of that amount designated for Pau FC, the Ligue 2 team he played for before his time at Schalke.
Replacing Martinez has been one of NYCFC’s significant hurdles this off-season, particularly after he suffered an ACL injury while representing Costa Rica last November, which required surgery.
Martinez was a key player for NYCFC, contributing 17 goals during the regular season and making a notable impact in their first-round playoff series against Charlotte FC. Unfortunately, he is expected to be out for most of the 2026 season.
Interestingly, this potential signing of Sylla isn’t the lone transaction from the weekend; reports indicate that NYCFC is also set to acquire Kai Trewin from Australian side Melbourne City FC.
