FC Cincinnati re-signs Yuya Kubo through 2025 MLS season
Yuya Kubo's stay at FC Cincinnati was extended with a contract that will keep him at the club for at least two more seasons.
FC Cincinnati on Tuesday announced Kubo's contract extension through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. The 29-year-old Kubo first joined FCC in 2020 and his 116 appearances are the fourth-most in team history.
"We’re excited to have Yuya back with FC Cincinnati,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati's general manager, said in a Tuesday news release. “Yuya’s ability on the ball, ground coverage, and positional versatility make him an integral part of our group. He’s also a player of high character and a great teammate, and we’re thrilled that he’ll be with us this coming season and beyond.”
Kubo made 37 appearances across all competitions in 2023 – his most games played since the 2017-18 season with Belgian side KAA Gent (42) – scoring two goals and adding three assists. Both of Kubo’s goals this season came in U.S. Open Cup competition, including his 114th minute equalizer against Inter Miami CF in the semifinal round at TQL Stadium.
When FC Cincinnati announced its year-end roster decisions Wednesday, Kubo was one of four players from FCC's 2023 team that was still in talks with the team about a potential return.
Analysis: Why Kubo's contract extension matters
FC Cincinnati just finished a 2023 campaign that saw it play 46 competitive matches across four distinct competitions, including the MLS regular season (34 games), the MLS Cup playoffs (four games) the U.S. Open Cup (five games) and Leagues Cup (three games).
With FC Cincinnati competing in a fifth competition in 2024, the baseline expectation for the upcoming season should be FC Cincinnati will play more than 39 games −34 in the regular season, at least two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, at least one in the Open Cup, and two further games in Leagues Cup. That doesn't include the MLS postseason, which FC Cincinnati will overwhelmingly be favored to reach. It also assumes the competition format for Leagues Cup remains the same as 2023.
Suffice it to say that it's conceivable FC Cincinnati will play more than 50 games in 2024. If the club intends to improve on its performances from the Open Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS Cup playoffs in 2023, it will need real depth.
Kubo offers versatility and depth to FCC. He started some of the biggest matches of 2023 for Cincinnati when he was pressed into action. He also provided big sparks off the bench when called upon.
There was a time when it was unclear what the future held for Kubo at FC Cincinnati. By the end of the 2023, you were glad to see him on the field in whatever capacity he was needed.
After being signed under then-general manager Gerard Nijkamp in 2020 with the intention of leaning on Kubo for goals, the player is now one that can be leaned on in every area of the field. It's not hard to imagine him in a box-to-box role.
In the somewhat limited time he saw in 2023 − his 1,068 minutes were the fewest he played for FCC, including the pandemic-shortened 2020 season − Kubo showed he's still a capable finisher and facilitator.
Inserted into FC Cincinnati's midfield when the club had to reshuffle in the postseason due to the absence of defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo, Kubo showed his ability to track back, defend, and put in effective tackles, as well as contribute to the attack.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Yuya Kubo re-signs with FC Cincinnati through 2025 MLS season
