Improvement is needed from NYCFC player Agustín Ojeda

New York City FC has made the club a home for promising South American prospects in the past, such as Valentín Castellanos and Talles Magno. Some have worked out, like Castellanos, who is playing in Italy, while others, like Magno, have not.

Over a year ago, at the start of the 2024 season, the team took another swing in finding a gem when the Bronx side signed the nineteen-year-old forward Agustín Ojeda from Racing Club de Avellaneda in Argentina. The youngster was signed through 2028 with an option for 2029 as part of Major League Soccer’s U22 initiative.

The Pigeons certainly needed to expand their depth at the winger position, with Malachi Jones and Hannes Wolf as the only real options before Ojeda’s arrival. He is a 5’7 winger from Rosario in Argentina, which should sound familiar, and he showed promise before making his move to New York City. He joined Racing’s academy and made his debut in 2022. The winger scored in the Round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, helping Racing advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.

In his 24 matches for Racing, Ojeda notched three goals and two assists and made five appearances in that year’s Copa Libertadores. Ojeda admittedly came to MLS as one for the future; he is someone with potential and who can raise the game of his teammates.

Agustín Ojeda's time with NYCFC

In his first interview with NYCFC, the youngster proclaimed, “I am excited to be joining one of the best clubs in MLS that is known for competing for championships, while also focused on developing young players.” The quote showed his ambition but also his patience for growth. There was hope surrounding the Argentine, but has he played to his potential?

In his first season with the club in 2024, Ojeda was finding his feet and was limited to game time in MLS. He registered eleven starts in which he scored three times. He did not have any regular assists, but did have two MLS assists, which count the second assists like hockey. While those numbers may seem small, he had ten shots on target and 23 total shots, which lends to his ability to create space and generate opportunities.

This season has sadly not been much of an improvement, as the Argentine has still struggled to get off the mark despite an injury to Jones. The summer acquisition of Nicolás Fernández Mercau does not help his quest for more minutes with NYCFC either.

In 2025, Ojeda had just twelve starts in MLS, with twenty-one appearances as a sub. While he has five assists, he has failed to increase his goal tally, having scored none this season. The winger is still so young, and with a contract that runs for at least another three years, he has time to develop.

He has to take advantage of his playing time and build trust with his coach and teammates. Potential only goes so far without production, and if Ojeda wants to take that next step, he needs to get his all-around numbers up. If he does that, then his playing time will increase with NYCFC.