Australian defender Kai Trewin is close to transferring to New York City FC, according to sources.
Another Australian player is poised to join the MLS, as Melbourne City defender and World Cup contender Kai Trewin is set to finalize a permanent transfer to New York City FC, sources have informed ESPN.
Similar to Melbourne, New York is part of the City Football Group’s network of clubs, finishing fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference in 2025 and subsequently reaching the conference finals of the MLS Cup, where they were eliminated by the eventual champions, Inter Miami.
Announcement of Trewin’s transfer is anticipated in the upcoming days, with the Canberra native expected to become the second Socceroo on New York’s roster, joining midfielder Aiden O’Neill. O’Neill, also a former Melbourne City player, made his move to New York from Belgian club Standard Liège last April.
ESPN has learned that the A-League club will receive a sum exceeding seven figures (AUD) for the defender, who, after being part of several previous squads, made his full Australian debut in friendly matches against Venezuela and Colombia last November and will now aim to strengthen his case for selection for the World Cup this summer.
The defeat to Colombia, in which Trewin started for an Australia XI affected by illness, took place at Citi Field in Queens—one of two venues that New York utilizes while awaiting the construction of Etihad Park in Willets Point.
Trewin developed as a central defender and played that position under coach Tony Popovic while with the national team, but has been utilized as a holding midfielder by Melbourne City manager Aurelio Vidmar this season, in which he has appeared in 19 matches, all as a starter, across the A-League and Asian Champions League Elite. He was a regular in the squad that secured the A-League title in 2024-25.
The 24-year-old’s departure marks a busy January transfer window for the defending Australian champions, who have signed Ryan Teague, Daniel Arzani, and Marcus Younis on loan, in addition to re-signing former FC Cincinnati defender Harrison Delbridge, who played in Melbourne from 2018 to 2020, on a short-term contract.
Melbourne City opted not to comment.
