FC Tulsa has acquired forward Taylor Calheira via transfer from New York City FC II, where he recorded 14 goals and five assists last season to earn MLS NEXT Pro Best XI honors. | Photo courtesy New York City FC
TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa announced on Thursday it had acquired forward Taylor Calheira via transfer from New York City FC II of MLS NEXT Pro. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.
Calheira joins the club after earning MLS NEXT Pro Best XI honors with NYCFC II a season ago. The 22-year-old recorded 14 goals and five assists in 24 appearances in the MLSNP regular season, recording 34 shots on target and averaging a goal every 149.1 minutes in the regular season.
A Baltimore, Maryland native, Calheira also featured for the side in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, scoring a pair of goals as NYCFC II took a 3-2 victory against Hartford Athletic in the Second Round to finish with three goals in the tournament.
“We are beyond excited to announce the signing of Taylor Calheira to FC Tulsa,” said FC Tulsa Sporting Director and General Manager Caleb Sewell. “With 17 goals and five assists in 2024 across all competitions, Taylor has proven himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the country. His vision, finishing and character make him a perfect fit for our club’s ambitions.
“This is a signing that speaks to our commitment to building a team that competes at the highest level, and we can’t wait to see what Taylor will bring to our attack.”
New York City FC had previously selected Calheira with the 66th overall pick in the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. He had previously competed for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he recorded 32 goals and 16 assists across 61 appearances and earned America East Striker of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. After earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2020, he closed his career with three consecutive America East First Team nods.