Mix Diskerud has been flirting with a move to MLS for the last couple of years, and he's finally made the decision to come play his club soccer in the United States. New York City FC announced on Tuesday that Diskerud had signed for the club.
New York City FC signs USMNT midfielder Mix Diskerud
NYCFC held the top spot in the Allocation Order, used to determine who can sign United States men's national team players looking to join the league, and had to use it to obtain Diskerud. The league no longer uses the "Designated Player of a certain threshold" mechanism that sent Clint Dempsey to Seattle and Michael Bradley to Toronto, though Diskerud would not have met that standard, as the club has announced that he is not a Designated Player.
Diskerud noted that he wanted to move to the United States and praised head coach Jason Kreis in a statement on the club’s website.
“New York City FC have made my wish as an American a reality by giving me the opportunity to play and live in the US. Everybody I have spoken to on the men’s national team about Jason Kreis has spoken highly of him to me. I felt exactly the same way after meeting him.”
NYCFC were able to sign Diskerud on a free transfer after his contract expired at Rosenborg. The 24-year-old Norwegian-American made his senior debut in 2008 and has spent his entire pro career in Norway and Belgium. Diskerud switched allegiance from Norway to the USA in 2009, then made his senior USMNT debut in 2010. He's since earned 25 caps, scoring five goals.
Though they're still working to fill out their roster, NYCFC already have some impressive depth in the center of midfield. Diskerud joins Frank Lampard, MLS veterans Andrew Jacobson and Ned Grabavoy and Chivas USA dispersal draft pickups Tommy McNamara and Matt Dunn.
Presumably, Diskerud has actually signed a contract with the club.
