Nicolas Fernandez Mercau has put an end to transfer speculation by confirming he turned down a reported $25 million offer from Sporting Kansas City.
The 26-year-old Argentine made clear his intention to remain with New York City FC, shutting down what had been a summer of growing rumour and uncertainty.
Fernandez Mercau has established himself as one of MLS’s most dangerous attackers since arriving at NYCFC during the 2025 summer transfer window.
His 13 goals this season place him tied for third among all MLS players during the regular season, a return that has attracted serious attention from rival clubs.
Sporting Kansas City made a bid worth up to $25 million for the forward over the weekend, with multiple reports confirming the scale of the approach.
The bid carried added intrigue given that Sporting Kansas City’s front office is led by David Lee, the former NYCFC sporting director who knows the player well.
Rumours of a potential departure had been building throughout the summer after reports emerged that NYCFC had turned down a sizable offer and that Fernandez Mercau had requested a transfer.
However, a source with knowledge of the situation made clear that New York City FC “doesn’t want to let him go” and that the club remains committed to keeping him as part of their winning plans.
With the MLS summer transfer window nearing its close, NYCFC were expected to retain Fernandez Mercau unless a significantly larger offer arrived before the deadline.
That offer never came, and Fernandez Mercau ultimately chose to stay, drawing a firm line under what had become one of the more compelling transfer sagas of the MLS window.
His decision to remain in New York will be a major boost to NYCFC’s ambitions, with the Argentine now free to focus entirely on helping the club push for honours.
