HARRISON, N.J. (March 23, 2017) – New York Red Bulls II has released its 24-man roster for the start of the USL season. The roster includes seven New York Red Bulls players. The New York Red Bulls and MLS have entered into 2017 Standard USL Loan Agreements for Brandon Allen, Arun Basuljevic, Justin Bilyeu, Connor Lade, Dan Metzger and Hassan Ndam with New York Red Bulls II. Zeiko Lewis joins NYRB II on a season-long loan.
The Standard USL Loan Agreements contain a Right Of Recall for MLS, which enables each player to play for NYRB II and New York Red Bulls throughout the duration of the Loan Period (i.e. through the end of 2017), subject to roster compliance guidelines.
Per the Right of Recall incorporated in the six game-by-game loan agreements, the New York Red Bulls retain the right to recall the player at any point during the MLS regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines.
The seven MLS players, in addition to 13 USL players and four Red Bulls academy products, round out the current 24-man NYRB II roster.
The four Red Bulls academy players include goalkeeper Sam Ilin, defender Kevin O’Toole, midfielder Ben Mines and forward Zach Ryan.
Allen, the reigning USL Rookie of the Year and USL Cup Final MVP, finished his 2016 USL season with a team-leading 15 goals. The forward was also a finalist for USL MVP. Allen made one MLS appearance, his professional debut, as a sub against Toronto on May 28, 2016.
Basuljevic signed with the Red Bulls as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 24, 2017. In college, the Red Bulls academy product played three seasons at Georgetown. He earned All-BIG EAST honors in each of his three seasons, including all-conference First Team honors in 2015 and 2016, and was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 2014. Basuljevic ranked in the top three on the team in scoring all three seasons.
Bilyeu, the Red Bulls’ 2016 first round SuperDraft pick, played 15 USL games with NYRB II last season. The defender played in both legs of the Red Bulls’ 2017 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal games and started against Seattle Sounders FC on March 19. Bilyeu made three MLS appearances in his 2016 rookie season and started all three of New York’s CONCACAF Champions League group stage games.
Lade, the Red Bulls’ longest tenured Homegrown Player, is returning from a season-ending ACL injury suffered on Aug. 7, 2016. The defender made 18 appearances, including 15 starts, scoring one goal and one assist last season. Lade has played 73 games for the Red Bulls over the course of his six-year MLS career.
Lewis, a native of Pembroke, Bermuda, was selected by the Red Bulls in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder has represented the Bermuda national team, including in World Cup Qualifiers. Lewis played four years of college soccer at Boston College, totaling 73 appearances and 70 starts.
Metzger, who spent the last two seasons with Red Bulls II, has played 39 USL regular season games with NYRB II. The Red Bulls academy product signed an MLS contract on Jan. 23, 2017 and has appeared for the first team twice in his career. In 2015, he played in New York’s International Champions Cup victory against Chelsea F.C., and scored in a 2016 friendly against Club America.
Ndam, a native of Foumban, Cameroon, signed with the Red Bulls via transfer from Rainbow FC Bamenda on Jan. 31, 2017. The 18-year-old defender has been a regular with Cameroon at youth international levels, featuring in a starting role through U-17 residency cycles. Ndam is currently a member of the Cameroon U-20 National Team pool.
Tickets for NYRB II’s home opener on April 1 at Montclair State University, in addition to tickets for all New York Red Bulls II home matches, are available on NewYorkRedBulls.com/2/tickets or by calling 1.877.727.6223.
Transaction: New York Red Bulls and MLS enter into 2017 Standard Loan Agreements for Brandon Allen, Arun Basuljevic, Justin Bilyeu, Connor Lade, Dan Metzger and Hassan Ndam with New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League (USL) on March 23, 2017. Per the Right of Recall in the players’ loans, the New York Red Bulls retain the right to recall the player at any point during the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines. New York Red Bulls II acquires Zeiko Lewis on a season-long loan from New York Red Bulls on March 23, 2017.
New York Red Bulls II Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Rafael Diaz, Sam Ilin, Evan Louro
Defenders (11): David Abidor, Justin Bilyeu, Ethan Kutler, Connor Lade, Andrew Lombard, David Najem, Hassan Ndam, Kevin O’Toole, Jordan Scarlett, Tim Schmoll, Andrew Tinari
Midfielders (6): Arun Basuljevic, Vincent Bezecourt, Zeiko Lewis, Dan Metzger, Ben Mines, Florian Valot
Forwards (4): Brandon Allen, Stefano Bonomo, Junior Flemmings, Zach Ryan
MLS player on loan
** Academy player on amateur agreement
