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

Khiry Shelton – SC Paderborn (Bundesliga, GER)

American winger Khiry Shelton was NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick and he went on to play over 50 times for the club in his three-year spell at Yankee Stadium. New York City drafted Shelton with the second overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, helping the team to the playoffs in both 2016 and 2017. After that campaign, the winger made the move to Sporting Kansas City but spent just a season with the side before making the move to Germany, signing for SC Paderborn on a three-year deal.

Akira Fitzgerald – Richmond Kickers (USL League One)

The Sky Blues’ substitute goalkeeper that day was Akira Fitzgerald. His professional career started with the Carolina RailHawks, where he played 48 times of a three-year spell. He then signed for NYCFC ahead of their inaugural campaign but did not play a game for the club in his short spell, before re-signing for the RailHawks midway through the 2015 campaign.

After a further 18 months in Carolina, Fitzgerald made the move to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he spent two seasons. He then signed for Richmond Kickers ahead of the 2019 campaign.

Kwame Watson-Siriboe – Unattached

Defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe played for NYCFC for the entirety of the 2015 term, starting on the bench for their first-ever game in the league. He was ddrafted 26th overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, and played for the club for two years, with a short loan spell to FC Tampa Bay in 2011 as well.

The centre-half then spent three seasons with Real Salt Lake before signing for New York City FC ahead of the 2015 campaign. As they were not yet playing competitive matches, KWS was loaned out to Orange County Blues and then the Carolina RailHawks. After a season in the Bronx, Watson-Siriboe left NYCFC and has since played for Orange County Blues (for a second spell), Indy Eleven and KTP in Finland, the club he left at the start of 2019.

Kwadwo Poku – Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)

Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Poku started on the bench for NYCFC’s debut MLS game but went on to have a breakout year, scoring four and setting up seven more in 27 games in 2015. Poku started his professional career with Georgia Revolution and had a spell with Atlanta Silverbacks before signing for NYCFC ahead of the 2015 campaign.

After 18 months in the Bronx, the Ghanaian moved to Miami FC and has since played for Anzhi Makhachkala and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Sebastian Velasquez – El Paso Locomotive (USL Championship)

Colombian midfielder Sebastian Velasquez started his New York City FC career on the subs bench and went on to play twelve games for the club in their debut season in MLS. He was drafted by Real Salt Lake in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, and feature for the side more than 40 times over the course of his first three seasons in the top flight.

Velasquez then moved to NYCFC ahead of the 2015 campaign, but stayed in the Bronx for just a single year, before joining Rayo OKC. The midfielder then spent two seasons with Real Monarchs, scoring 16 times in 47 games for the club. After a short spell in Japan with Suwon FC, Velasquez moved back to the States, signing for El Paso Locomotive in June 2019.

Patrick Mullins – Toronto FC (MLS)

One of two forwards on the bench for their inaugural MLS game, Patrick Mullins became a key part of New York City’s plans over the course of the 2015 season. The forward was drafted by the New England Revolution with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, having played for the Baton Rouge Capitals and New Orleans Jesters during his college days.

After a single season with the Revs, Mullins made the move to NYCFC, where he spent the next 18 months of his career, After tallying six goals in 31 regular-season games, he made the move to the capital. During his time there, he became the first player to score four goals in a half of an MLS game, doing so in a 31 minute spell against the San Jose Earthquakes.

He was traded to Columbus Crew in July 2018, but spent only a year with the side, scoring just a single goal. Mullins now plays his football with Toronto FC.

Javier Calle – Independiente Medellín (Categoria Primera A, COL)

The second Colombian on the bench for NYCFC when they made their MLS bow was Javier Calle. The midfielder played twelve times for the club in his one season. His professional career started with Independiente Medellín, where he spent six years, with loan deals to América de Cali and Jaguares de Córdoba before he signed for NYCFC.

He spent less than a year in the Bronx, before returning to Colombia, where he joined América de Cali on a permanent basis. After a short spell with Club Atletico Torque in 2017-18, Calle returned to Independiente Medellín, the club where his career started.