Red Bull New York Signs Jorge Rubalcaba
On Monday, Red Bull New York made significant changes to its offensive lineup, finalizing the transfer of Jorge Rubalcaba for the duration of the 2029-30 MLS season.
Rubalcaba is the newest face on the Red Bulls roster during what has been a hectic offseason for the new sports director, Julian de Guzman, and head coach, Michael Bradley.
While the club hasn’t officially revealed the transfer fee, reports suggest it’s around $6.5 million, marking a record for the franchise.
Last week, it was confirmed that RBNY was close to securing the winger, who spent five years with UNAM Pumas in Liga MX.
He’ll take on the role of the third designated player for the team this season, while also being eligible for targeted allocations in future years.
De Guzman expressed his confidence in Rubalcaba, stating, “He is a dynamic and creative attacker who has shown great potential and a strong work ethic, and I am confident he will contribute to our success both on and off the field.”
In his career spanning 100 games in Liga MX, Rubalcaba scored 16 goals and assisted on nine occasions.
During a media session at the Red Bulls’ training facility in Whippany, New Jersey, Bradley mentioned that Rubalcaba had caught his eye since he took on the head coaching role. He noted, “I watched a little bit and saw what the club had prepared in terms of video and background information and data. I spent even more time watching myself. For me, this player was a really good fit for what we’re trying to do. A young, exciting attacking player who wants to be dynamic and aggressive, wants to win the ball on the move, and find different ways to get into the box to score goals, set them up, and attack on the ball.”
He added, “He’s a guy who chases, presses, and gives everything for the team. The more I saw him, the more I got really excited about the possibility of bringing him to Red Bull New York.”
Now, Rubalcaba joins Cade Cowell and the Red Bulls’ 2025 leading scorer, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, as Bradley rethinks the club’s attacking strategy.
Since taking over, Bradley has focused on the traditional pressing style associated with the Red Bull brand, which also emphasizes possession, width and effective use of wingers.
In an interview with Am New York, Rubalcaba expressed his enthusiasm about playing alongside Choupo-Moting and Cowell, remarking, “When you’re around these types of players, you want to learn and want to get better. So it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. I’m sure we’ll have a great relationship.”
