Major League Soccer club New York City FC became the first in the league to sign an esports player, it was announced Wednesday. NYCFC landed local FIFA gamer Christopher Holly, who will represent the soccer team in FIFA tournaments and championships worldwide.
Manchester City, the Premier League club that shares City Football Group as a parent company with NYCFC, signed a FIFA player last year in Kieran “Kez” Brown. Overseas soccer clubs in general have been ahead of the MLS in esports, with organizations like the French premier soccer league Ligue 1 launching Europe’s first professional esports soccer league around FIFA 17.