New York City FC have signed former Austria youth international Hannes Wolf from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year contract through the 2027 MLS campaign.
Wolf joins the Eastern Conference side after spending the last three-and-a-half seasons with Gladbach that includes a loan spell with EFL Championship club Swansea City, where he registered two goals and three assists in 19 appearances from January to June of 2022.
Wolf’s transfer also contains an option to extend his contract by a further season in 2028.
Wolf departs the Bundesliga after scoring five goals and adding three assists for Gladbach in 69 games played. The 24-year-old also spent one season with RB Leipzig from July 2019-July 2020, where he managed just five appearances.
“We are excited to welcome Hannes to New York. Despite only being 24 years old, Hannes has already accumulated fantastic experience at top levels in Europe, having played in the Bundesliga, Champions League and Europa League which we know will add a lot to our squad,” NYC sporting director David Lee said in a release.
“He is a very creative, direct and versatile player, that also possesses a fantastic work-rate defensively, who can play across several positions in our attack. Hannes will be a huge addition to our group with his experience and quality and we are delighted that he decided to join us ahead of the other opportunities he had in Europe.”
Prior to his time in the Bundesliga with Gladbach and RB Leipzig, Wolf rose through the ranks in the Red Bull Salzburg system in his native Austria before transferring to FC Liefering in February 2016.
Wolf returned to the Red Bull setup in December 2016, where he really began to show his quality in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 89 appearances for RB Salzburg, Wolf tallied 22 goals and 21 assists to help his team three league titles.
Wolf’s stellar performances from late 2016 to June 2019 for Salzburg helped the club fetch a transfer fee just north of $13m as he departed for Leipzig before joining Gladbach in July 2020.
“I am looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career at New York City. I am excited to be joining Major League Soccer and representing one of the best clubs and cities in this league,” Wolf added.
“I am excited to meet the coaching staff and my new teammates, and get to work. I hope to bring my experience to help this team achieve its goals this season and compete for championships. I look forward to meeting the passionate New York City fans and playing in front of them.”
Wolf has yet to make his international debut at the first-team level, but he has suited up 12 times for the Austria U21 team, bagging six goals in the process.
NYCFC being their 2024 MLS season with a road clash at Bank of America Stadium vs Charlotte FC, looking to return to MLS Cup playoffs after missing out in 2023 with an 11th place finish in the Eastern Conference standings.
