Frozen through 2030: Matt Freese signs contract extension with NYCFC | OneFootball

On Thursday evening, Matt Freese announced to a crowd at the local Men in Blazers event that he is staying with New York City FC. Per the club, the goalkeeper has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2030.

This is the second extension he has signed with the Pigeons. Before the 2024 season, he had signed through 2026 with an option for 2027. As such, the Bronx team knows they will have a goalkeeper when they open the new stadium and for the foreseeable future.

It is unknown what this means for his salary, but one should believe that Freese will see an increase. The keeper was expected to have European interest during the offseason since he has not only shined for NYCFC, but he has been superb with the USMNT. His performance against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup certainly earned the attention of many.

Staying with NYCFC is the right move for Matt Freese

By signing a contract extension, and one through 2030, Freese announced his intention to stay with the Boys in Blue. He easily could have expressed to NYCFC that he wanted to go overseas, and to be safe, they could have just picked up the option for 2027 and maybe extended by one more year. In that case, they could have done a loan deal or eventually transferred Freese for a higher amount.

Instead, the intent for the keeper to stay with NYCFC is clear as day. He will stay frozen with NYCFC through 2030. Of course, there is always a chance of a transfer, but ideally, he will stay until then and possibly beyond.

The 2024 team MVP expressed his happiness about the deal. "It’s an exciting step for me to sign a long-term contract with New York City FC," he told newyorkcityfc.com. "The Club has felt like my family, and the fans have taken me in and supported me so generously since the first day I joined."

He later added, “My extension shows a mutual trust and the belief that New York City has in me, and for that I’m both very grateful and excited. This contract extension will allow me to continue to dive into my career and development on the field and in the locker room. I’m looking forward to creating many more memories with the fans in the years to come.”

When one thinks about it, this is a fantastic moment for Freese. He was the backup goalkeeper with the Philadelphia Union before his move to NYCFC. Plus, he was initially not the starting goalkeeper. But once he was given the chance, he grabbed it and has not let go. Staying with the team allows him to continue his journey as a starter and improve his craft.

Moreover, this is the correct move when it comes to the USMNT. Many goalkeepers did well in Major League Soccer, went overseas, and subsequently saw their playing time decline significantly. This impacted their performances, and sometimes they were no longer called up to the USMNT. After, for some former starters, their place was taken over.

The contract extension and not moving to Europe means that Freese will have a stronger chance of earning the starting role with the USMNT. Then, NYCFC has their first-choice goalkeeper for the next few years. This is a win-win for both the player and the club.