Gotham FC and NYCFC news roundup: The player edition | OneFootball

Over the last few weeks, some good news has come out for New York City FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC players. Since the writer of this was on vacation, there is a little catching up to do regarding some players for both teams.

Gotham FC and NYCFC news roundup: James Sands, Esther González, and more

James Sands' new loan deal

Last Tuesday, NYCFC announced that James Sands' loan with FC St. Pauli has been extended to June 30, 2026. This is great news since the midfielder only played in seven matches for the Bundesliga team before suffering a season-ending injury.

Before he was injured, Sands was performing well and earning starts for the German team. Since St. Pauli will remain in the German first division and avoided relegation, extending the loan deal made sense for both sides. The player deserves a chance to prove whether he can play a full season with the team, and without the injury, there probably would have not been any question about whether he would stay on for the following season.

Thankfully, St. Pauli has seen enough and believes in Sands. Hopefully, he will make NYCFC proud.

Esther González's contract extension with Gotham FC

Gotham FC announced on May 15 that Esther González has signed a contract extension that will keep her with the club through 2027. The Spaniard has been a big part of the club since joining in the summer of 2023.

After a drastic roster turnover this past offseason, having González remain with the club has been vital to the Bats. She has scored eight goals in all competitions and scored the winning goal in the finals of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup.

Extending her contract, which ended this season with a mutual option for 2026, is a good move for Gotham. After all, González is their recent leading scorer and a great teammate. Hopefully, she will continue to perform at a top level through 2027, and possibly beyond.

Matt Freese and the USMNT call-up

NYCFC fans can celebrate, somewhat, for Matt Freese was called up to the USMNT for training camp and a few friendlies. The goalkeeper has been shining in Major League Soccer, so the fact that he gets a chance to prove himself and compete for a spot on the Gold Cup roster is great news.

At the same time, while Freese deserves this chance, fans would have to worry about him missing time with NYCFC. The good news is that it would only be a few games, for the tournament takes place from June 15 through July 7. At a maximum, he would miss three games. Plus, since the roster tends to be MLS-heavy, Freese has a higher chance of being selected.

The goalkeeper will hopefully add his name to the mix and make his debut during this window. Nevertheless, the call-up is great news for the NYCFC fan-favorite.