Bénie Traoré is the newest NYCFC forward and Designated Player | OneFootball

Rumors have been swirling for the last week or two, but now, New York City FC officially has a new Designated Player and forward. The club announced on Monday that they have signed Bénie Traoré. The Ivorian international joins the team from Swiss club Fussball Club Basel 1893. In addition, his contract will last until the 2029-2030 season, with an option for another year.

As mentioned, Traoré is a forward and adds a welcoming presence to the attack. He can play in multiple positions, especially as a winger or striker. He has also scored 25 goals with Basel.

With the Swiss club in the last season, he has mostly been utilized as a left-midfielder and left-winger, which the winger position is the spot occupied by Hannes Wolf. Where he will play for NYCFC is unknown at this time.

Bénie Traoré is a good signing but raises questions for NYCFC

Moreover, there is the open question of what is happening with the other DP players. Is Talles Magno on the move? Is Thiago Martins' contract being bought down? Could the NYCFC captain possibly be on the move this summer?

One can hope and assume that the newest player signed will at first play as the striker while Alonso Martínez, who is back training individually, continues his recovery from his ACL tear suffered on international duty last fall. The Pigeons desperately need a true striker who can start. Yes, Nicolás Fernández Mercau has done better than expected, filling in, but the Argentine would be best utilized as a winger or even as an attacking midfielder, filling in for the injured Maxi Moralez.

Of course, there is the other question of whether Fernández Mercau will leave based on the rumors from the spring. Ideally, that will not be the case. A front three of him, Traoré, and Martínez would definitely be buzz-worthy in Major League Soccer.

Plus, NYCFC fans can look forward to the newest DP for at least a few years. He is 23, and if Traoré ends up doing very well for the Boys in Blue, then possibly he could return to Europe in a few years, and the club can make more money than they have paid for him.

His age also means that he could turn into a star forward in MLS. There is room for growth, and maybe he can score 15 to 20 goals or more a season. Expectations, despite the excitement of his addition to the squad, should not be high for the rest of the 2026 season. After all, sometimes it takes a while for players to adjust to the league.

Nevertheless, Traoré is a great signing, and he has a lot of potential. NYCFC is lucky to have him as a member of the team.