Tommy McNamara had played all four seasons with NYCFC. (Photo courtesy of MLS)
New York City FC fans, say goodbye to Tommy McNamara.
Houston Dynamo supporters, say hello to the 27-year-old midfielder.
The Dynamo Thursday selected McNamara in the second stage of the Major League Soccer re-entry draft.
By selecting the West Nyack, N.Y. native, the Dynamo obtain the exclusive right to negotiate a contract with McNamara for the 2019 season.
McNamara has made appearances in MLS regular-season play and has started 72 matches. After starting in six matches for Chivas USA as a rookie, McNamara joined NYCFC in the 2014 MLS expansion draft andspent the last four seasons in the Bronx. McNamara recorded 13 goals and 12 assists for City.
He helped NYCFC advance to the postseason in each of the last three seasons, finishing in the top three of the Eastern Conference each time. McNamaraenjoyed his most productive season in 2016 when he set career highs in appearances (30), starts (28), minutes (2,229) and assists (nine) and tied a career-high with five goals. He saw less playing time after Domenec Torrent took over as coach for Patrick Vieira in June.
The 5-9, 170-lb. McNamara, who played his youth soccer with FC Westchester, entered the league as the 20th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA out of Clemson University. He started his collegiate career at Brown University and earned a bachelor’s in economics from the Ivy League school before transferring to Clemson to obtain his master’s degree. In his lone season with the Tigers, he led the team with seven goals and had eight assists, earning first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and NSCAA All-South honors.
