In the second transfer announcement of the day, New York City FC traded center-back Tony Alfaro to LA Galaxy for up to $500,000 in General Allocation Money. NYCFC is guaranteed $125,000 in 2023 GAM, and up to $375,000 in additional GAM if “certain performance metrics are met,” according to the statement issued moments ago by the club.
The deal doesn’t come as a surprise. Alfaro joined NYCFC from DC United in December 2022, but the 30-year-old never found his place in the club’s lineup. New York City lost star center-back Alexander Callens to La Liga’s Girona FC in the offseason, which created an opportunity for Alfaro to see regular playing time. But he didn’t get on the field until Matchday 14, or make a start until Matchday 15.
More pointedly, Alfaro hasn’t seen any minutes in the last four matches despite NYCFC finding themselves short-handed at center-back. In recent games, Cushing placed 20-year-old right-back Tayvon Gray and 21-year-old defensive midfielder Justin Haak in a back-three with Maxime Chanot, rather than play Alfaro and Chanot in a back-four. Earlier in the season, Cushing played defensive midfielder James Sands as a center-back over Alfaro.
NYCFC now has just two primary center-backs in the First Team, Chanot and Thiago Martins. Rumors are swirling that the club is in the market for a young left-footed center-back to bolster the defense.
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