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New York City FC’s inaugural MLS squad: Where are they now?

By Matt Coles

New York City FC player starting line up Josh Saunders (12), Shay Facey (24), Andoni Iraola (51), Angelino (69), Chris Wingert (17), Mehdi Ballouchy, (20), Javier Calle (30), Andrew Jacobson (4), Thomas McNamara (15), Kwadwo Poku (88), and Captain David Villa during the 2015 MLS Match between New York City FC vs Orlando SC on July 26, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY, USA . New York City FC won the match with a score of 5 to 3. Photo �� Ira L. Black (Photo by Ira Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
New York City FC player starting line up Josh Saunders (12), Shay Facey (24), Andoni Iraola (51), Angelino (69), Chris Wingert (17), Mehdi Ballouchy, (20), Javier Calle (30), Andrew Jacobson (4), Thomas McNamara (15), Kwadwo Poku (88), and Captain David Villa during the 2015 MLS Match between New York City FC vs Orlando SC on July 26, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY, USA . New York City FC won the match with a score of 5 to 3. Photo �� Ira L. Black (Photo by Ira Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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New York City FC, David Villa
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – October 31: David Villa #7 of New York City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the New York City FC Vs Philadelphia Union MLS Eastern Conference Knockout match at Yankee Stadium on October 31st, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

ST – David Villa – Vissel Kobe (J1 League, JPN)

Starting up front for NYCFC was their first-ever signing, and their first-ever Designated Player, World Cup-winning Spaniard David Villa. The striker went on to play 30 times for the club in their inaugural season, bagging 18 goals and assisting eight others over the course of the campaign.

His professional career started with Sporting Gijón, where he scored 40 times in 85 games before making the move to Real Zaragoza in La Liga. During his two years with the club, Villa helped the team to a Copa Del Rey title in 2004, along with the Supercopa de Espana later that year.

He won a second Copa Del Rey with Valencia in 2008, and during his time with the side, he made his international debut. Villa has gone on to become Spain’s all-time record goalscorer, notching 59 goals in 98 games. He was part of the national squads that won the UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

After the World Cup glory, Villa signed for Spanish giants Barcelona, and went on to win every trophy possible in the next three seasons. He helped the side to two La Liga titles, the Copa Del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

He then won a third La Liga title after signing for Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2013-14 campaign. Villa then became NYCFC’s first signing and was loaned out to Melbourne City in 2014 ahead of the Sky Blues’ inaugural season in MLS.

He went on to score 82 goals in 130 competitive appearances for the Bronx side, earning league MVP honours in 2016, and being voted to the All-Star Game in all four of his seasons in MLS. Villa left New York at the end of the 2018 campaign and now plays for Vissel Kobe in the J1 League in Japan, playing alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta and Lukas Podolski.

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