NYCFC Sign Brazilian Winger Rodrygo Santos as Third Designated Player
The 24-year-old arrives from Fluminense with a reputation as one of South America’s most creative attacking midfielders and gives NYCFC an elite option behind their front two.
By Alexan SL · July 28, 2026 · 4 min read
NEW YORK — NYCFC completed the signing of Brazilian attacking midfielder Rodrygo Santos from Fluminense on Monday, using their final designated player slot to add a player who arrived at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday afternoon to a reception that the club’s social media team described, not inaccurately, as resembling a concert.
Santos, 24, scored 13 goals and registered 11 assists for Fluminense last season in the Campeonato Brasileiro, operating primarily as a No. 10 behind the striker. His dribbling ability, close control in tight spaces, and capacity to play through press have drawn him comparisons to a younger-era Kaká in the Brazilian press, a comparison he dismissed with a smile at his unveiling press conference on Tuesday.
“I’m Rodrygo,” he said, grinning. “I’m just here to play.” The line drew a reaction from the approximately 400 supporters who gathered outside Yankee Stadium for the unveiling, which the club organized after demand for a public event exceeded expectations.
Head coach Nick Cushing said Santos would be integrated into training immediately and that a timeline for his first start would depend on his physical adaptation to the club’s high-intensity system. NYCFC’s training staff has built a customized conditioning block for the Brazilian, who arrived directly from a short vacation following Fluminense’s domestic cup exit in early July.
The signing completes NYCFC’s designated player roster alongside Cucho Hernandez and Mounir Nasri. The three players represent the most individually talented attacking core the club has assembled since its founding season, and the combination gives Cushing genuine tactical flexibility in his final third.
Santos will be eligible to appear in NYCFC’s home match against Toronto FC on August 9, assuming he clears all league registration requirements by the end of the week. Season ticket holders received early access to meet-and-greet opportunities, and the club reported a 22 percent increase in new membership inquiries in the 48 hours following the signing announcement.