NYCFC signed Slovenian youth international Mitja Ilenič from NK Domžale
The word comes from Slovenian press this New York City FC paid almost one million euros to sign 18-year-old Mitje Ilenič, a right-back who plays for NK Domžale in the Slovenian First League. Ilenič made seven appearances for the young Slovenian national team, the last time he played for the Slovenian U21 national team. Transfermarkt values right-back at €400,000.
According to an Article reported earlier this month in Nogomania (“gometni” is Slovene for “football”), NYCFC outbid Austrian football Bundesliga side SK Sturm Graz, who were only willing to pay a €500,000 transfer fee. A few days later, @NYCFCSOURCE tweeted that New York would pay a fee that “should amount to approximately 1 million euros.” Yesterday, the Polish football scout Paweł Turek tweeted that the deal was done. The Turk also reposted the awesome reel he originally tagged published already in September.
Mitja Ilenić is now a new player of the New York City Football Club. Club with @MLS płażił za młodego słoweńskiego bocznego obrońcę okolo 1 mln euro.
But this is another reason to watch MLS more often #MLS #NYCFC https://t.co/gE4fEpVXq8
— Paweł Turek (@PawelTurek1987) December 29, 2022
Ilenič, who turned 18 four days ago, joined NK Domžale in January this year. and became a regular starter for the team. NK Domžale occupies the fifth place of the ten tablewith 31 points after 20 games.
Ilenič is expected to add depth at right guard behind Tayvon Gray, who signed two-year extension with NYCFC in November. Gray, 20, became New York’s starting quarterback after Anton Tinnerholm suffered an Achilles injury in 2021. Tinnerholm left NYCFC in November and signed with Malmö FF back to his native Sweden.
This is shaping up to be the most extensive rebuilding year in NYCFC’s short history and the signing of an unknown but promising young talent is a trademark of a club that has found success by taking full advantage City Football Group’s global scouting network.
This post will be updated as new information becomes available.