Manchester City Step Closer to Buying MLS Team In New York, Says Report

Manchester City are inching closer to buying a new MLS franchise that would make them the owners of Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise according to a report today.

In December, Bloomberg reported that Manchester City were interested in becoming the owner of a MLS team in Queens, New York. In response to the story at the time, Manchester City released an official club statement saying that they are not a buying club.

But yesterday, MLS commissioner Don Garber was in Toronto where he discussed several topics including MLS expansion. His spokesperson said that there could be an announcement about a new New York MLS team in 4-6 weeks, which would coincide perfectly with Manchester City’s friendly against Chelsea in New York on May 25.

On top of that, Philly.com blogger Jonathan Tannenwald is reporting that he’s heard from multiple sources that “Manchester City are now once again in the lead to take hold of MLS’ 20th franchise.”

With what MLS is saying, New York City looks an almost certainty to become the next team in the league.

The only question now is whether Manchester City will be the owner. The club continues to see the United States as a prime market to expand its brand. City will arrive here after the end of the Premier League season to play friendlies against Chelsea on May 23 (in St. Louis) and May 25 (at Yankee Stadium in New York).