Red Bulls Sign Colombian Striker as Designated Player to Jolt Playoff Ambitions

HARRISON, N.J. — The New York Red Bulls announced the signing of Colombian international striker Sebastián Gómez on Monday, using their third designated player slot to acquire a forward who scored 19 goals in 34 appearances for Atlético Nacional last season in the Colombian Primera A.

Gómez, 26, arrives in Harrison on a two-and-a-half-year contract and is expected to be in the starting lineup when the Red Bulls host Chicago Fire on Saturday at Red Bull Arena. General manager Denis Hamlett called the signing “the most exciting player we’ve added to this roster in several years.”

The Red Bulls’ decision to activate the designated player slot follows a frustrating summer stretch in which the team’s attack ranked in the bottom third of the Eastern Conference for goals scored. With the playoffs still within reach — New York trail the seventh seed by three points with eight games remaining — the front office moved decisively to address the team’s most glaring need.

Gómez is a technically gifted center forward who prefers to operate in tight spaces in and around the penalty area. He has drawn comparisons to a younger version of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado in his ability to link play and finish, a profile that the Red Bulls’ coaching staff believes will complement the team’s high-pressing, direct style under head coach Troy Lesesne.

Red Bull Arena, which has seen its attendance figures trail those of NYCFC in recent seasons, is anticipating a boost. The club’s ticketing office reported a significant spike in single-game purchases for Saturday’s home match within hours of the signing being announced.

Gómez will wear the No. 9 shirt vacated when Dante Vanzeir left the club in January. He joins a squad that also features midfielder Lewis Morgan and Argentine playmaker Luquinhas, and his introduction into the starting eleven is expected to give the Red Bulls the focal point their attack has lacked all season.