This is the 2026 New York City FC Tracker, a post we update often with breaking news, official or rumored, about this year's New York City FC squad and season. We let you know the source and nature of all updates shared and always provide links or screenshots back to original reporting. This post is exclusive to paid subscribers, but the first, most recent update is always available to everyone.
• Luighi loan moving closer to completion?
July 22, 2026
Status: Rumor
Luighi, a 20-year-old forward with SE Palmeiras in Brazil, is reportedly close to finalizing a loan-to-buy move to New York City FC. That's according to a new report from André Hernan of ESPN Brazil, the first person to link the young Palmeiras forward with NYCFC.
🚨🚨🚨FECHADO: Atacante Luighi é do NY City. Jogador já está nos Eua para exames e assinatura. Empréstimo até o fim do ano e Palmeiras leva 300 mil dólares. Opção de compra 6 milhões de Dólares e Palmeiras fica com 20% do jogador. pic.twitter.com/2Sotk4f1ok
— André Hernan (@andrehernan) July 22, 2026
Translated from Portuguese: "CLOSED: Attacker Luighi is with NY City. Player is already in the USA for exams and signing. Loan until the end of the year and Palmeiras gets 300 thousand dollars. Buy option 6 million Dollars and Palmeiras keeps 20% of the player."
Hernan says NYCFC will pay a $300,000 loan fee to pick up Luighi through the end of 2026, and that the club holds a $6 million option to buy the youngster outright at the conclusion of his loan. Luighi has played mostly as a center-forward but has seen some time on the right-wing, though he's young and generally untested at the top level, only earning sparse playing time for Palmeiras in their top-level competitions like the Brazilian Série A.
The rumored arrival of the 20-year-old Brazilian comes as NYCFC is said to be facing a possible exit from one or two other attacking players, given Sky Sport Austria says Hannes Wolf wants to leave the club, and that Germán García Grova reports that Designated Player Nico Fernández Mercau is a high-priced transfer target who is also open to a transfer away.
• Greg Ranjitsingh latest goalkeeper to sign contract extension
July 21, 2026
Status: Official
Not just Tomás Romero, as another member of the NYCFC goalkeeper's union has extended his contract. Greg Ranjitsingh, whose deal was set to expire at the end of 2026 (though with a 2027 option year), has now been extended by NYCFC through 2027/28 with the option to make it last through the 2028/29 MLS campaign.
The three most senior members of NYCFC's goalkeeper group now have longer-term contracts with the club, since Matt Freese put pen to paper on an extension late in the 2025 season that has him under contract through 2030, even while Freese's name continues to pop up in a variety of transfer rumors. Ranjitsingh has never appeared in a competitive match for New York City since he first joined the club in January 2025, with his last MLS action coming when he made four appearances for Toronto FC during the 2023 season.
• Tomás Romero gets a contract extension
July 20, 2026
Status: Official
Tomás Romero, the second-choice goalkeeper for New York City FC the last few seasons, is sticking with the club on a longer-term contract. NYCFC announced they've signed Romero through the 2027/28 season with an option to retain him for 2028/29.
Romero's contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season had he not received this extension. Romero this season is earning $113,400 in total guaranteed compensation, with his only start in goal coming in the club's US Open Cup Round of 32 win over USL League One side Westchester SC. He's been a solid backup to Matt Freese, making six total appearances for NYCFC and keeping one clean sheet in those games.
