The Ringleader is gone.

To Austin, Texas.

New York City FC Thursday announced that captain and midfielder Alex Ring has been traded to expansion team Austin FC in exchange for up to $1.25M in General Allocation Money.

City will receive a guaranteed amount of $750,000, with $500,000 in 2021 GAM and $250,000 in 2022 GAM, and an additional $500,000 if certain performance-based incentives are met.

https://twitter.com/NYCFC/status/1339651479108542474?s=20

“Alex has been one of the most important signings in our history,” NYCFC sporting director David Lee said in a statement. “He raised the level of the team from his first moment with NYCFC and has been an integral part of our club, contributing high level performances on a consistent basis over the past four seasons. With us he’s had one of the best periods of his career and it’s no coincidence that as a club, we’ve also been very consistent in the MLS Regular Season during that time.

“It’s never easy to consider losing a player of Alex’s quality, but in a salary cap league we have to make difficult decisions when finding ways to improve the team and we believe the significant offer positions us to improve the roster in 2021. Some of our younger talent in the midfield have also shown in 2020 that they are ready to take on even bigger roles and we’re looking forward to their continued development.

“We wish Alex and his family all the best in Austin and thank him for his commitment to NYCFC over the past four seasons.”

It should not be surprising thta Ring is heading to Austin FC since the team’s sporting director is Claudio Reyna, who had a similar role with NYCFC.

We are very excited to add Alex to our squad. He is a highly regarded MLS player who can play in multiple positions,” Reyna said in a statement. “He has been a key piece in one of the best MLS teams in the last four to five years. He sets a high standard in training and is someone who is a top professional. Alex will be a great addition to our club.”

Added Ring: “I am looking forward to this new challenge and opportunity with Austin. It’s exciting to be a part of something from the very beginning. I have seen the progress with the stadium and St. David’s Performance Center and the hype around the city and the club. I can’t wait to join my teammates and meet our fans.”

In a NYCFC press release, Ring said this about his four year tenure with the club: “It’s a difficult moment for me to be leaving a club and a city that has given me a lot over the past four seasons. It’s truly been a special part of my career and I can’t thank the players, coaches and front office enough for the support they provided myself and my family since coming to New York in 2017.

“To the supporters, you are amazing. As players, we play for you and I’ll miss each and every one of you. It was an honor to captain your Club and I gave everything I had each game. You deserve a lot and I hope my time here met the expectations you have for all those who wear the City blue shirt.

“While I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my career, I leave with only good memories of New York and will cherish them for the rest of my life.”

Ring, 29, joined NYCFC in 2017 and enjoyed four of his best years as a professional. The former Finnish international appeared in 120 MLS matches, recording 10 goals and 13 assists.

He was selected for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game during a season that cemented his status as one of the league’s best midfielders.

Ring was named captain prior to the 2019 season. He helped lead NYCFC to a club-record 64 points as the team finished first place in the Eastern Conference. The latter feat qualified the team to the Concacaf Champions League for the first time in Club history.

A fan favorite, Ring is second on the club’s all-time appearance list behind goalkeeper Sean Johnson and having played more than 10,000 regular season minutes.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.