New York City FC brings in Richard Ledezma on loan

On Friday, New York City FC announced the signing of Richard ‘Richy’ Ledezma on loan from Real Salt Lake via PSV Eindhoven.  In other words, Salt Lake had the rights to Ledezma, and so they loaned them to the Pigeons.  This allowed the Bronx side to sign him on loan from PSV.  As a result, the 22 year old’s loan will last until the end of the season.

Ledezma is a talented midfielder, and quite versatile.  He is best known as an attacking midfielder, but can also play in the central midfield or on the right wing.  It is difficult to see him pushing out Keaton Parks or Santiago Rodríguez, so it will be interesting to see who he can oust from the Starting XI. 

New York City FC signs Richard Ledezma on loan

Nonetheless, he brings vital depth to New York City FC, and helps solidify the once questionable midfield.  If he adjusts quickly, the move will allow Nick Cushing to rotate players more often, especially during the busier parts of the season. 

The new NYCFC player’s passing ability truly fits into the Pigeons’ goal of possession football.  So far this season, the possession percentage has been down, so hopefully he can aid with keeping the ball.  His agility and speed can also assist with moving up the pitch in order to help produce opportunities. 

Again, it is questionable whether he will be a starter, especially right away.  But Ledezma has plenty of potential.  If not for his ACL injury back in 2020, then who knows where he would be today.  Truthfully, it is unlikely he would have been an available player for NYCFC.  Alas, things happen, and sometimes not for the better.  As a result, the young American gets a chance to try and rebuild his career. 

The club truly sees the potential from Ledezma as well.  Sporting Director David Lee had this to say about the new player:

"We are delighted to have acquired Richy on a loan deal through the end of the season. Richy is an extremely talented player with excellent technical qualities which suit our methodology, and will play an important role across several positions in our midfield. Richy has also gained experience playing in Europe during the past years and will be an important addition to our group. We will play in a number of competitions throughout the season, so building a strong squad is an important part of our strategy and Richy adds quality and depth to our roster."

- David Lee

In the end, the impact of Ledezma is unknown.  Hopefully, he can be that talented player that everyone remembers from a few years ago, and help New York City FC in 2023.