Mitja Ilenič leaves NYCFC via a loan deal, and it is the right move

New York City has many players from the 2025 season who are still with the club. However, there are some that should not remain with the team for the upcoming Major League Soccer campaign. Mitja Ilenič was one of those players who it was believed would be better off elsewhere. No, it was not because he could not play to the standard of the club, but rather that he was too talented not to play regularly.

However, fellow right-back Tayvon Gray completely won out the job as the starter, meaning that Ilenič barely played in the second half of the season. The two have been battling it out since 2023, and ultimately, the Slovenian's rumored falling out with Pascal Jansen might have aided in Gray taking over. But Ilenič is a player who has the potential to be a star, so it was thought he should leave. So, it was not shocking that the defender is departing the club.

Mitja Ilenič is leaving NYCFC

While it was thought that the right-back would leave via a permanent transfer, NYCFC announced on Saturday that the player is heading out to Poland on a loan deal through December 2026. He is joining Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna, also known as Raków Częstochowa, in the Ekstraklasa.

Ilenič leaves NYCFC after making 75 appearances. While there is no option to buy, a permanent transfer is highly likely in the future. Per Sporting Director Todd Dunivant, the defender wanted to leave, and the club wanted to support his "desire to return to Europe."

Plus, the Slovenian and Gray are both talented enough to be starters. Truthfully, when all is said and done, the players were disadvantaged by the constant switching and periods of when one started over the other. Gray, unless NYCFC has something else up their sleeves, will be the starter with Ilenič moving to a new team. Then, Ilenič has a chance to become the right-back he was expected to become. He has the potential to one day play in a top 5 league, and maybe the Pigeons thought a loan deal to Poland would facilitate a possible transfer to a league like Serie A or La Liga.

Of course, Ilenič has to play well, and sometimes that is difficult when a player moves to a new team. Hopefully, the right-back will grab that starting spot right away. In addition, he will hopefully help Raków Częstochowa in the fight for first place, for the team is in fourth place, but one point separates them from first.

Nevertheless, the move to Poland is the right one for Ilenič. He can be closer to home while also receiving more minutes elsewhere. It was great to have him and Gray, knowing the team had two fantastic right-backs. But in the end, it is better for Ilenič's development to play for another club.