NYCFC and Star Midfielder Maximiliano Moralez Agree to a 2-Year DP Extension

Maxi Moralez. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Csm/Shutterstock

NYCFC announced on Thursday that they have signed Argentinian midfielder Maximiliano Moralez to a two-year extension. Moralez will remain club’s Designated Player under this new deal as well. The financial terms of the deal remained undisclosed.

Moralez is coming off an excellent 2019 MLS regular season, having made 28 appearances in which he scored seven goals and provided impressive 20 assists. The 32-year-old also made his first MLS All-Star appearance this year.

“We’re very excited to have Maxi extend his contract with NYCFC,” – said NYCFC’s sporting director Claudio Reyna. “Since he joined our Club three years ago, his contributions on and off the pitch have been clear to everyone. He’s a role model, a top professional, and the best compliment I can give him is that he makes every player around him better.”

Moralez came to MLS in 2017, signing for NYCFC after his contract with Argentina Superliga side Leon expired. Since then, he made 89 appearances with the club, scoring 20 goals and dishing 45 assists. He also played five postseason games, scoring once and having two assists.

“I’m very happy to extend my contract with the Club for two more years,” – said Moralez after inking the deal. “I want to thank the Club and the fans for letting me be a part of this team. The decision was easy because we are a family, and when you feel that way, it makes it easier. To the fans, thank you for all the support you have given me. I hope you continue to enjoy watching us playing game after game as we try to accomplish our goal of becoming champions.”

Maxi Moralez spent the most of his early professional career in native Argentina, before signing with Italian Seria A side Atalanta in 2011. He spent five years in Italy, playing 147 games in which he scored 20 goals and had 25 assists. Moralez also has one appearance for Argentina’s national team.

Gunner's favorite movies are Pulp Fiction, Iron Man (just the first one), and every James Bond film ever made. He's learning TV and cinema and hoping to always enjoy movies as he does now.