MLS Ticker: NYCFC adds Wolf, Chiellini joins LAFC staff, and more

NYCFC made a major splash ahead of its 2024 preseason schedule.

Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf has joined the Eastern Conference side from Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach. Wolf, 24, signed a four-year MLS contract, which includes an option for 2028.

Wolf made 69 appearances for Gladbach, scoring five goals and providing three assists across all competitions.

“We are excited to welcome Hannes to New York. Despite only being 24 years old, Hannes has already accumulated fantastic experience at top levels in Europe, having played in the Bundesliga, Champions League and Europa League which we know will add a lot to our squad,” Sporting Director David Lee said. “He is a very creative, direct and versatile player, that also possesses a fantastic work-rate defensively, who can play across several positions in our attack.”

Prior to his move to Germany, Wolf made his breakthrough at Red Bull Salzburg is his native Austria. He made 89 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, scoring 22 goals and providing 22 assists.

Wolf also played for RB Leipzig and Swansea City in his club career to date.

Here is a closer look at all of the recent MLS news:

Giorgio Chiellini joins LAFC as player development coach

Giorgio Chiellini isn’t leaving Los Angeles just yet.

The legendary defender and former LAFC player will remain with the club as a Player Development Coach. Chiellini, who played with LAFC for two seasons from 2022-2023, announced his retirement from professional football in December. 

In his new role, Chiellini will work with LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo and the coaching staff to assist in first team player development. 

“We were thankful to have Giorgio play the final 18 months of his playing career with LAFC,” LAFC Co-President & GM John Thorrington said. “During that time he proved what an asset he is for LAFC in a number of ways, and we are excited to add a truly brilliant football mind, incredible leader and an even better person to our staff for the upcoming season.”

The 39-year-old joined LAFC in June 2022 and made 45 appearances across all competitions for the club. Chiellini lifted MLS Cup in 2022 with LAFC and also helped the club return to the league final in 2023.

LA Galaxy sign forward Miguel Berry

Miguel Berry is officially an LA Galaxy player.

Berry signed a two-year contract on Tuesday, which runs through the end of the 2025 MLS season. The Galaxy originally acquired the player rights to Berry from Atlanta United in exchange for LA’s natural second round pick in the 2024 MLS Draft back in December.

Berry, 26, has recorded 11 goals and three assists in 75 career regular season matches across four MLS seasons. He previously played with the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, and Atlanta United.

The forward logged one goal and one assist in 27 appearances with Atlanta during the 2023 MLS regular season.

Minnesota United adds midfielder Alejandro Bran on loan

Minnesota United also made a midfield move on Tuesday, acquiring Alejandro Bran on a one-year loan for 2024.

Bran’s loan move from Costa Rican side Herediano also includes an option for the Loons to purchase him outright. The 23-year-old featured in 18 matches across both Primera Division and CONCACAF Central American Cup competitions during the 2023-24 campaign with Herediano.

He scored three goals and provided two assists during that span.

On the international level, Bran has earned five caps with the Costa Rican national team.

Minnesota United failed to make the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2023.

Orlando City signs defender Michael Halliday to new contract

Orlando City homegrown defender Michael Halliday has been rewarded with a new contract.

Halliday’s new deal will run through the 2025 MLS season and also includes options for 2026 and 2027. The 20-year-old signed a first team deal in 2020 and since has made 36 appearances for the the Lions across all competitions.

In addition, Halliday has featured in five MLS NEXT Pro matches with Orlando City B.

“Mikey is someone that we’ve seen a lot of progress from since he first signed for the First Team and completed the pathway from the Academy,” said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi. “He’s featured well in some key games both domestically and internationally with Concacaf Champions League last year and the FIFA U-20 World Cup and we’re excited to see how he develops even further in the next few years.”

Halliday has been a key player for the U.S. Under-20 men’s national team, featuring in 12 matches. He made six appearances during the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and four in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

DC United bolsters goalkeeping ranks with Nathan Crockford signing

DC United have signed their third goalkeeper ahead of 2024 preseason camp.

Nathan Crockford was signed to a one-year deal through the 2024 MLS season with options through 2027, the club announced Tuesday. Crockford, a third round selection by DC United in last December’s MLS Draft, excelled at the University of Wisconsin.

“We are signing a talented young goalkeeper in Nathan and he’s coming off a good season with the University of Wisconsin,” general manager and chief soccer officer Ally Mackay said in a release. “He has the qualities to be a successful goalkeeper in this league and he will be a great addition to our core goalkeeping group.”

The 21-year-old registered 43 saves in 17 appearances for the Badgers last season. Prior to his move to the Big Ten, Crockford played two seasons in the Pac-12 at the University of California.

He joins a DC United goalkeeping corps led by veterans Tyler Miller and Alex Bono.

DC United failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

Quick Kicks:

• NYCFC acquired midfielder Andres Perea in a trade with the Philadelphia Union on Monday. Perea, who spent majority of the 2023 MLS season in New York, was acquired for a total of $650,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) divided up over 2024 and 2025. The Union could also receive an additional $150,000 GAM in performance-based incentives.
• The Colorado Rapids acquired a third-round draft pick in the 2025 MLS Draft via a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes. In exchange, San Jose received the rights to goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Yarbrough departs Colorado as the club’s record-holder for the most shutouts in club history (33).
• Minnesota United added forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith in a trade with the New England Revolution. New England will receive $125,000 in GAM and could receive up to an additional $50,000 in performance-based GAM as well. Adebayo-Smith led Revs II in goals during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
• The Chicago Fire signed goalkeeper Bryan Dowd to a one-year contract through 2024. Dowd was selected by the Fire during the 2024 MLS Draft last month after excelling at the University of Notre Dame.
• Minnesota United added defensive depth in the form of Derek Dodson. Dodson, a former first round draft pick by Orlando City in 2021, most recently played for USL Championship side Charleston Battery.
• The Houston Dynamo made their 16th homegrown signing in club history on Monday. Kieran Sargeant was signed to a two-year contract, which includes options through 2027. Sargeant just finished his junior season at the Georgetown University.
• Allan Arigoni joined the Chicago Fire on a season-long loan from Swiss side FC Lugano. The 25-year-old former Swiss youth international previously made 145 appearances in his native country for Lugano and Grasshoppers, tallying six goals and 16 assists.
• CF Montreal added attacking help for the upcoming season after inking Joaquin Sosa on a season-long loan from Bologna FC. The 22-year-old originally debuted in his native Uruguay for Nacional before also featuring at Bologna and Dinamo Zagreb.
• A familiar face also returned to CF Montreal in the form of goalkeeper Sebastian Breza. Breza signed a two-year deal with the Canadian club from Bologna FC, after previously spending 2021-22 on loan in MLS. He made 38 appearances for CF MTL across all competitions.