If there’s one factor that New York Metropolis FC ahead Bénie Traoré has gotten used to throughout his soccer profession, it is shifting.
At 23 years previous, the Ivory Coast worldwide has already performed for Swedish membership Häcken, Sheffield United when it was within the Premier League, French facet Nantes and Basel in Switzerland. Now he is made his solution to the Massive Apple as NYCFC’s latest designated participant through the World Cup break in June.
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Whereas Traoré has already traversed the globe throughout his younger soccer profession, he does wish to preserve a bit of style of house with him.
Bénie Traoré posing throughout a promotional shoot at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Courtesy of New York Metropolis FC
“I just like the meals from my nation and I already discovered it in New York, that is a superb one,” Traoré stated throughout a sit-down interview that included The Submit at NYCFC’s workplaces in Manhattan.
But when anybody thinks Traoré is right here to sightsee across the metropolis, they might be sorely mistaken. The ahead stated he hadn’t explored a lot of the town but — the membership took him to the statement deck at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on Monday as a part of a promotional shoot — and Traoré described himself as somebody who would not “exit lots.”
Benie Traore of Ivory Coast appears to be like on through the worldwide pleasant match between Scotland and Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. Getty Photographs
“I simply need to be round my individuals, play my soccer and go house,” he stated.
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Traoré will get loads of probabilities to play his sport as New York Metropolis FC enters a very crowded a part of the schedule. The membership will play in a pair of Leagues Cup matches Thursday towards Santos Laguna and Sunday towards Cruz Azul, after which one other Aug. 13 earlier than returning to MLS regular-season play later that week.
Traoré has already appeared in all three of NYCFC’s matches because the World Cup break ended, although he has but to attain a purpose. The Ivorian insisted that first purpose for his new membership is “coming quickly,” and sporting director Todd Dunivant appeared to love what he is seen thus removed from the latest acquisition.
Bénie Traoré #9 of the New York Metropolis Soccer Membership reacts earlier than the primary half towards the Chicago Hearth FC at Yankee Stadium on July 25, 2026 in New York, New York. Getty Photographs
“He can convey not simply targets, however he also can present assists, he is bought good imaginative and prescient, he is a playmaker. Once more, we have not seen the perfect of him but, however you’ve got seen some moments of brilliance from him,” Dunivant stated, whereas mentioning the membership had tried to convey Traoré in through the winter switch window. “I feel we’re actually enthusiastic about Bénie and persevering with to get him ramped up. Pascal’s accomplished a very good job of managing him on this early section in order that he is arrange for achievement, which in the end is about the long run for us.”
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Traoré has some long-term targets of his personal with New York Metropolis FC, which was a part of the draw to the MLS membership.
NYCFC is in its eleventh season, which means that there’s ample alternative to make his manner into the historical past books for the membership.
“I needed to be a part of a venture like this in my profession. I had the chance to do it and I jumped on it,” he stated.
