New York City FC (NYCFC) has signed midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau from newly-promoted La Liga side Elche CF for a reported €8 million on Friday.
The Argentine is under contract with the Boys in Blue until 2029, and arrives as the 10th designated player in club history. He will be the third DP on the roster alongside captain Thiago Martins and Talles Magno, who is currently on loan at top-division Brazilian side Corinthians.
He is also the club’s tied-record signing alongside Alexandru Mitriță and Jovan Mijatović, both of whom are no longer there.
“We’re really excited to welcome Nicolás to New York City,” said NYCFC sporting director David Lee. “He is an attacking midfielder who plays with intensity, possesses excellent technical ability, and contributes in both the attack and defense. Nicolás already has experience in two highly competitive leagues and has shown he can perform consistently at a high level, most recently helping Elche CF earn promotion to LaLiga. He is arriving at a perfect age to impact the roster in both the short- and long-term, and will add quality and depth to our roster.”
The 5-foot-6 attacking midfielder is known for his high, intensive pressing — a hallmark of NYCFC sides, as well as his ambitious playmaking that would earmark him for the No. 10 position in head coach Pascal Jansen’s team. He is seen by fans as a long-term Maxi Moralez replacement in the middle of the park, as the 38-year-old has featured in every match this season.
“I would describe myself as a player who enjoys having the ball, attacking, and getting into goal-scoring positions,” said Fernández Mercau. “I love the game and try to bring that joy onto the pitch, whether that means going forward or helping the team defensively when things get tough. For me, it’s all about staying connected with my teammates and doing everything I can to help the team succeed.”
The 25-year-old started his career at his boyhood club San Lorenzo de Almagro in the Argentine Primera División, breaking into the first team at the start of the 2021 season, where the league calendar runs the same as the MLS. He played 50 matches over the next two seasons, scoring twice and assisting three times.
Fernández Mercau earned a move to Spain in 2022, and to Elche CF — the city’s only local team, which was in La Liga at the time. It didn’t start off well, though, as he conceded a ninth-minute own goal on his debut in a 4-1 loss to Athletic Club Bilbao. He would go on to feature 17 more times as the team on the southeastern coast of Spain was relegated to La Liga 2 in 20th place.
His four goals and one assist the next season were an improvement, but not enough to get Elche back into the first division as they finished 11th in a 22-team league. The next season, the 2024/25 season, he scored seven goals and recorded 10 assists across all competitions to help Elche back into La Liga with an automatic promotion spot in second. His season featured a run of eight games starting in November, where he scored twice, assisted five times, and was sent off once.
“I’m very excited and happy to join New York City FC,” said Fernández Mercau. “Joining this club is a big step in my career and a beautiful challenge that I welcome. I know the league is growing a lot, and I am really looking forward to being a part of it and showing I’m ready for the opportunity.”
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