Long Island native Dylan Niels will remain with the Red Bulls through at least the 2027 season after signing a new three-year contract on Thursday.
The new MLS contract comes with an option for the 2028 season for the defender, who is in the midst of his third season with the Red Bulls after being acquired from Nashville in a trade in 2021.
“We are very excited to retain Dylan.” [Nealis] Red Bull sports director Jochen Schneider said in a statement: “Dylan is off to a great start to the season and has proven to be a very important member of our roster.”
Nealis has appeared in 57 MLS games for the Red Bulls since arriving in New York, 10 of them this season.
In three seasons with the club, Nealis has five assists, including one this year.
“Dylan is an important member of our backline this season,” Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwartz said. “He has proven to be a leader for our group and we are pleased to keep him on our roster for years to come.”
Niels is the younger brother of Red Bulls defenseman Sean Niels.
Nealis had a one-year contract with the Red Bulls after the 2023 season, but the deal fell through due to an injury issue in June that required surgery and sidelined him for more than three months.
The Massapequa native was originally selected third overall during the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and spent time with Inter Miami and Nashville SC.
He played 23 games in MLS between Miami and Nashville before joining the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls lost to Inter Miami in their last game, but up until that point they were undefeated in six games and were in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
