Veteran winger Gary Mackay-Steven has decided to leave the MLS this season, putting an end to his two-season stint with New York City FC. The 30-year-old player will return to native Scotland where he signed a deal with Heart of Midlothian.
Mackay-Steven, who also had an offer from Aberdeen, will reportedly sign a deal through the 2022-23 season. He confirmed the move on social media.
Gary Mackay-Steven joined NYCFC on a two-year deal in 2019 and was initially supposed to have a big role for the MLS squad. However, Mackay-Steven never actually managed to secure a spot in the starting lineup, being mostly used as a backup and fill-in for injured players.
During his two seasons with NYCFC, Mackay-Steven played a total of 34 games (15 starts) and contributed with just three goals and two assists. The club had an option to keep him under contract for the 2021 MLS season but declined it for obvious reasons.
Mackay-Steven will now get a chance to resurrect his career in a familiar setting, considering he spent all of his pre-MLS career in Scotland. He played for Airdrie United, Dundee United, Celtic, and Aberdeen.
He also has two appearances for the Scottish national team.
