Yes, it’s true.

NYCFC have just announced on their website that they have signed 32-year-old veteran defender Andoni Iraola from La Liga side Athletic Bilbao. As an avid supporter of the Basque club, NYCFootie is elated to introduce this player to New Yorkers.

What You Need To Know

Iraola has played the entirety of his 12 year footie career with Athletic Bilbao scoring 38 goals and amassing a stunning 510 appearances.

It must be made clear that Iraola was never a bit part player for Bilbao. In Iraola NYC have signed a world class footballer who has been the heart and soul of a club team that in the past 12 years has beaten Manchester United over two legs of the Europa, has reached the final of the Europa League, and has reached 3 finals of the Copa Del Rey (a domestic knockout tournament in Spain, independent of the regular league play.)

Andoni is truly a talented player and when he first suits up for NYCFC sometime after July 8th he will be a class above the players at NYC and the MLS.

Style

Iraola is not a fast paced full back that has become so common in world football. Iraola possesses amazing passing range, great crossing ability, and a calculated mind. He seldom makes stupid tackles or loses his head, and his organization will do wonders for the inexperienced Facey and the often-out-of-position Hernandez.

To sum up Iraola in one word: composed. Throughout his storied playing career, Andoni was always the most trusted player on the field by his Basque compatriots, always making the right pass or tackle when asked to. This fits in perfectly with Jason Kreis’s ideal for a footie player. Iraola will be quality on the field and will be a reserved leader in the dressing room.

Iraola is a level-headed, composed, technically skilled, veteran footballer who will quietly make a huge impact on NYC’s back line.

NYC’s Back Line

All logic would suggest that Iraola would simply jump Brovsky, Allen, and the injured Williams in the pecking order and slot in at right back.

However, having a player of his caliber at right back seems like a inefficient use of talent. Right backs are important, but they cannot dictate the flow of the game, they aren’t the stars of the team, and they often aren’t the main reasons why a team will win or lose a match.

Thus, we wonder what will happen. With Facey in good form it seems logical to keep Iraola out wide, but come mid-July expect Kreis to tinker with Iraola’s position. He could be slotted centre back, or even into a holding midfield position, which he has played before for Bilbao when needed. Because of his supreme technical ability, tactical nous, passing range, and defensive capabilities, we’d almost prefer him getting a shot at holding midfield.

In Short

Let’s put aside all the positional conjecture for a moment and enjoy the brilliant signing.

Iraola comes FOR FREE as his contract had run out at Bilbao and both parties decided it would be the right time for him to leave. Iraola, as far as reports indicate, IS NOT a DP, which means NYC just got a world class player and have room to get another.

The MLS transfer window reopens July 8th, meaning Iraola could make his debut against Toronto at home on July 12th, but will most likely take a bit longer to get settled.

For now, we’ve got two wins, Lampard coming, and my main man from Bilbao coming to New York.