New York City FC have signed homegrown defender Tayvon Gray to a contract extension, keeping the Bronx native at the club through the 2028-29 MLS season.

The deal also includes an option for the 2029-30 campaign, securing one of the club’s most consistent performers for the foreseeable future.

Gray, 24, has made 175 appearances across all competitions for NYCFC since breaking into the first team in 2020, contributing three goals and 15 assists.

The right-back was part of the squad that won the MLS Cup in 2021 and followed that up by helping the club claim the Campeones Cup in 2022.

Sporting director Todd Dunivant expressed his delight at securing Gray’s future, highlighting the defender’s standing within the league.

“Tayvon has established himself as an important member of our club and as a top right-back in the League,” Dunivant said. “His lockdown defensive mentality is what sets him apart.”

Dunivant added that the club looks forward to having Gray “continue to play a key role with the club moving forward,” underlining how central he is to their plans.

Gray himself was equally enthusiastic about committing his future to the only professional club he has ever known.

“This is my club, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, but I’m hungry for more,” Gray said. “I want to keep winning, continue helping this group, and be part of this next chapter as we look ahead to Etihad Park.”

The extension keeps Gray among just five players on the current NYCFC roster who were present for the club’s historic MLS Cup triumph in 2021.

Gray originally signed his first professional contract with the club in November 2019 after rising through the academy system, becoming the fourth Homegrown player in team history.

He also holds the distinction of being the first player from the Bronx to sign a professional contract with New York City FC, a source of enormous local pride.

Despite his loyalty to NYCFC, Gray had previously acknowledged aspirations to play in Europe at some point in his career, speaking candidly during a World Cup event earlier in the summer.

He noted at the time that conversations with the club had been ongoing, describing the talks as “seeing what the next step is for me” before eventually agreeing to stay.

On the international stage, Gray has earned nine caps for Jamaica while also featuring for United States youth national teams earlier in his career.

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