Santiago Rodriguez is back.
New York City FC announced on Friday that it had acquired midfielder Santiago Rodriguez as a Designated Player from Montevideo City Torque through the 2027 MLS season.
The Uruguayan will wear No. 10 jersey and will be available for selection against Chicago Fire FC.
Rodriguez is a U.S. permanent resident and will not occupy an international roster spot.
“We are excited to welcome Santi back to NYCFC on a permanent basis,” sporting director David Lee said in a statement. “Over the last two seasons Santi developed into one of the most impactful attacking players in MLS and quickly became a very important part of our group. He has an extremely bright future ahead of him and at just 23 years old, we know he will continue to develop and improve.
“Bringing Santi back to the club was a priority for us and we are delighted that we have been able to finalize this deal. We’re looking forward to welcoming him back into the group and supporting his development over the years ahead.”
The 5-6, 137-lb. Rodriguez joined NYCFC in June 2021, on loan from Montevideo City, and recorded three goals and one assist across 21 regular season matches. A fixture in the lineup, Rodriguez played all four playoff games in the 2021 MLS Cup run, scoring in the Eastern Conference semifinal victory over the New England Revolution.
“I am delighted to be coming back to New York City,” Rodriguez said in a statement.”. It’s a city and a club that I have fell in love with. We have had many successes the past couple season and I hope to continue to bring happiness and silverware to the club and our fans.
“I will continue to work hard and grow as a professional every day on-and-off the field and do my part in helping the club achieve its goals. I am excited to be reunited with the New York City faithful and play in front of them again.”
The 2022 season was a breakout year for Rodriguez helping the club win the Campeones Cup while scoring seven goals and contributing with 19 assists across all competitions. That included four assists in the MLS Cup Playoffs en route to back-to-back Eastern Conference final.
