New York City FC spent serious money to sign attacker Alexandru Mitrita to a Designated Player contract.
According to a source with knowledge of the deal, NYCFC paid an $8.5 million transfer fee to Romanian club Universitatea Craiova to acquire Mitrita. The source said that the 23-year-old will make less than $1 million in 2019. The $8.5 million fee ranks among the highest in MLS history.
Mitrita joins Maxi Moralez and Jesus Medina as NYCFC’s third DP. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, winger or forward, Mitrita had 12 goals and four assists in 16 league games for Universitatea Craiova this season after bagging 16 goals in 38 games across all competitions in the 2017-18 season. Prior to moving to Universitatea Craiova, he spent two seasons in Italy's Serie A and B with Pescara.
Mitrita and his new NYCFC teammates are currently at a training camp in Abu Dhabi. The club will open the 2019 season at Orlando City on March 2.
