Every NYCFC player's official salary for the 2025 season

On Wednesday, the MLS Players Association released the 2025 Salary Guide for Major League Soccer teams, including New York City FC.  The data is based on the rosters as of May 23, 2025.

Fans can see the highest and lowest earners in the league and the team that they support.  In 2025, the highest earner is once again Lionel Messi, who makes $20,446,667 this year.  Of course, he could make more because of sponsor deals and other questionable but legal methods MLS uses to provide him enough money to play in the league, which is not the final count for the star player.

When looking at the salary guide, supporters have access to the base salary and guaranteed compensation. As always, Skyscraper Blues will focus on the guaranteed compensation since this is the total money players will earn. Those out on loan and off-roster players are included in the calculation and analysis.

In 2025, NYCFC is spending about $14,963,973 on players' salaries. This shows a significant decrease from 2024, as the Pigeons spent $16,542,203. Players could earn more money in the case specific bonuses are met.

NYCFC will spend about $14.96 million on salaries in 2025

This year, only four players make over $1 million, and two are away on loan: Talles Magno and James Sands. Then, for the fourth year in a row, Thiago Martins makes the most money on NYCFC, for he will earn $2,162,000. He will actually make $300,000 less compared to 2024. The center-back has always been a controversial figure based on his high salary and the fact that he is a Designated Player. It is still easy to argue that he is a talented defender, but not the best, so he should not be the highest earner on the team.

The next highest earners are Hannes Wolf, who will make $1,510,000, and Sands, who will earn $1,318,750. As mentioned, Sands is out on loan, so it is unknown how much of his salary FC St. Pauli will cover. In addition, 12 players will make $500,000 or more.

On average, NYCFC players make $482,709 in 2025. Similar to the total, this is a slight decrease from 2025's $501,279. The difference in salaries can be due to the fact that the Pigeons did not make any big-name signings and brought in multiple younger players.

Notably, only 31 salaries were revealed by the MLS Players Association. Since Aiden O'Neill is not listed despite being signed in April, he is not included below and in the above calculations. Nevertheless, here is a look at every other NYCFC player and their salaries for 2025.

1. Goalkeepers

Matt Freese- $420,000

^Alex Rando- $80,622

Greg Ranjitsingh- $104,000

Tomás Romero- $104,000

2. Defenders

^Prince Amponsah- $80,622

^Drew Baiera- $109,936

Nico Cavallo- $82,470

Tayvon Gray- $215,492

Mitja Ilenič- $391,700

Thiago Martins- $2,162,000

^Max Murray- $82,470

Kevin O’Toole- $246,667

Birk Risa- $908,250

Strahinja Tanasijević- $338,750

3. Midfielders

Jacob Arroyave- $93,620

^Máximo Carrizo- $137,523

Justin Haak- $215,004

Maxi Moralez- $500,000

Aiden O’Neill- Unknown

Keaton Parks- $530,000

Andrés Perea- $726,500

*James Sands- $1,318,750

Jonathan Shore- $116,500

4. Forwards

Mounsef Bakrar- $468,720

Julián Fernández- $724,300

Malachi Jones- $80,622

*Talles Magno- $1,065,000

Alonso Martínez- $800,333

*Jovan Mijatović- $687,500

Agustín Ojeda- $577,833

Hannes Wolf- $1,510,000

^Zidane Yañez- $84,789

Notes:

*Player is out on loan

^Plays predominantly for NYCFC II and/or is off the first-team roster but still signed with the team