New signing Raul Gustavo joins NYCFC at the perfect time | OneFootball

After rumors had been swirling for weeks, New York City FC finally has a new defender. The club announced on Friday that Raul Gustavo has joined the club from Hungarian side Ferencvárosi Torna Club. The Brazilian has signed through 2027 with options for the next two seasons.

Gustavo arrives at the perfect time. NYCFC lacks depth with traditional center-backs, and Birk Risa's departure did not help. Plus, Strahinja Tanasijević is a liability in the backline, and Tayvon Gray has struggled as of late when stepping out of the right-back spot. Since Thiago Martins will be out for at least another month or more, the new center-back will hopefully help the recent struggles in the backline.

NYCFC has a new defender

NYCFC needs all the help the team can get with ten matches to play in Major League Soccer. Of course, when Gustavo will be available is unknown, for the club mentioned they are waiting on his visa. As such, one should not expect him to be available for this weekend's clash. It would be a wonderful surprise if he is.

Meanwhile, his signing does create the question of what the future holds for Justin Haak. The midfielder has proven he can play as a center-back and has increased his time in the defense, especially with Risa's decreased time this season. Will he play less since it is believed that Gustavo was brought in to partner with Martins? Or will Martins be out longer than expected? This is something to keep an eye on.

Nevertheless, the Pigeons needed a new center-back and one who can start. His talent made it easy to see why he left Hungary after one season. Sporting Director David Lee described him best. He told newyorkcityfc.com the following:

"Raul is a left-footed center back who brings physical presence, composure on the ball, and valuable European experience. Raul brings a unique background having already been part of City Football Group, during his loan with Bahia in 2023, and his previous work with Pascal at Ferencváros, which we believe will help Raul adapt once he joins us in New York City. Raul has proven himself in high-pressure environments and has the characteristics we believe will make him a good fit for our system. We’re confident Raul will strengthen our backline as we enter the final stretch of the season.”

While Gustavo only played under Pascal Jansen for a short time, there is no question the familiarity should help him adjust to NYCFC. Ideally, he will adjust quickly and become a beloved member of the team.