New York City FC Monday announced that it has signed defender Stephen Turnbull to a first team contract through this MLS season with options for 2024 and 2025.

Turnbull became the first NYCFC II player to sign a first team contract, as well as the 39th player from MLS NEXT Pro to sign a MLS first team deal. The right back made his MLS Debut this season against the Chicago Fire on Matchday 2 and entered the game this past weekend against the New England Revolution on Matchday 6. This season, Turnbull joined the first team on a series of Short-Term Loans from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate NYCFC II.

“We are delighted to sign Stephen to a first team contract,” sporting director David Lee said in a statement. “We have seen the progression Stephen has made since joining NYCFC II last season, and have been impressed with his technical ability, work ethic and quality he brought in preseason and in his stints with the first team this season.

“With Stephen becoming the first NYCFC II player to sign a first team contract, it’s a huge testament to MLS NEXT Pro and our competitive player pathway to develop talent that is ready to compete and contribute to the first team. Stephen is an excellent example of attracting local talent into our ranks and helping them progress their career to play a significant role at the Club. We look forward to seeing Stephen’s continued progression and development with the first team.”

Added Turnbull: “I am excited to have signed with NYCFC. They are a club which has helped me grow as a professional on-and-off the field since the day I joined. I want to thank David Lee, Nick Cushing and the rest of the coaching staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to live out my dreams of playing professional soccer.

“This is just the beginning; I look forward to working hard every day to continue to get better and help this team compete for trophies across all competitions this season.”

Last season, the defender featured for NYCFC II after signing from Stony Brook University in February 2022. In 23 games, the attacking fullback scored five goals and provided four assists with an 82.6 percent passing success rate in 1,992 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.