HARRISON, N.J. (January 8, 2016)
- The New York Red Bulls have reached agreement on multi-year contract extensions for midfielders
Dax McCarty
and
Felipe
and signed defender
Damien Perrinelle
to an MLS contract, the club announced today.
Per club and league policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
"We believe that consistency is one of the keys to success and keeping our core intact," said Red Bulls Sporting Director
Ali Curtis
. "Both Dax and Felipe were integral to what we accomplished last season, and we are pleased to keep them with the club going forward."
McCarty was named captain ahead of the 2015 season, his 10
th
in MLS and fifth with New York. He earned his first MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI selections. The midfielder scored two goals in the regular season and recorded a career-best eight assists, including the only three multi-assist games of his career. McCarty made 32 appearances in his holding midfield role and lifted the Supporters' Shield for the second time in three seasons, and the first time as captain of the Red Bulls.
McCarty also finished the season tied for fourth on the franchise's games played list, with 142 regular season appearances for New York. He is second all-time for New York in league games started, with 137, and second in minutes played as well. McCarty is also eighth on the franchise list for career assists, and fourth in game-winning assists. McCarty scored his second-career playoff goal, and first as a Red Bull, in the first leg of a conference semifinal series. It was also his first career goal against his former club, D.C. United.
Felipe joined New York ahead of 2015, reuniting with
Jesse Marsch
- the coach that brought him to Montreal ahead of the 2012 season. Felipe was an important cog in the holding midfield for New York, and contributed three goals, including a game-winner at Portland in September, and five assists.
The Brazilian was the only field player to start all 34 regular season games for New York.
Felipe scored his first goal with the Red Bulls in a 1-1 tie against the LA Galaxy on April 26, 2015 at Red Bull Arena. Felipe also dished out five assists last season in New York to rank sixth on the club.
Perrinelle returns to the Red Bulls after not having his option picked up at the end of 2015. The 31-year-old Frenchman provided a steadying presence to a youthful backline that included 19-year-old center back Matt Miazga young outside backs Kemar Lawrence and Chris Duvall, and converted winger Sal Zizzo. The Red Bulls allowed the fewest goals in the MLS Eastern Conference, conceding 43 goals in 34 regular season matches en route to the club's second Supporters' Shield in three years.
"We are very excited to bring back Damien," continued Curtis. "He was a very important part of our team this past season. Despite the injury Damien suffered in the playoffs, we are doing everything we can to support his recovery and we look forward to him returning to full fitness."
Perrinelle was in the lineup for 17 of the Red Bulls' 18 regular season wins, making 28 appearances in MLS play in 2015. He also recorded two goals and a game-winning assist last season. He suffered a season-ending injury in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at D.C. United.
New York won its second Supporters' Shield in three seasons in 2015 as the Red Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship for the second consecutive season.
The New York Red Bulls open the 2016 MLS season on Sunday, March 6, when Toronto FC pays a visit to Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
For information on tickets, visit www.newyorkredbulls.com or call 1.877.727.6223.
TRANSACTIONS:
New York Red Bulls extend contracts for midfielders Dax McCarty and Felipe and sign defender Damien Perrinelle.
