The New York Red Bulls have signed midfielder Jean-Christophe Koffi to an MLS Homegrown contract, effective January 1, 2019, the club announced today. Additionally, Koffi has signed a contract with New York Red Bulls II for the remainder of the 2018 season, pending USL and federation approval, and the receipt of his P-1 visa.

Prior to the signing, the Red Bulls acquired Koffi's Homegrown rights from D.C. United in exchange for $75,000 in General Allocation Money. D.C. United will also receive a percentage of any sell-on fee, should Koffi be transferred outside of MLS.

"We are pleased to welcome Jean-Christophe to our club," said Red Bulls Sporting Director Denis Hamlett. "He is a talented young player that we are familiar with from the academy level. He continued to develop in college, and has demonstrated many of the qualities that we look for. It's a big advantage to get him in now, so he can begin the acclimation process and be ready to hit the ground running next year."

Koffi, who was born in the Ivory Coast, spent four years in the D.C. United Academy before playing collegiately at the University of Virginia, where he was a teammate of Red Bulls Homegrown midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr. in 2015.

"Jean-Christophe is a good player and we're glad to have him join our team," said Red Bulls Head Coach Chris Armas. "We like the physical qualities and winning mentality he displayed in college and we believe this will help him be a great fit for us. We're excited to get right to work with him and continue the process of his development."

During the 2017 season Koffi started 21 games for the Cavaliers, earning a First Team All-ACC Selection while contributing three goals and four assists, which was tied for the team lead. At the end of the season Koffi was ranked ninth in TopDrawerSoccer.com's National College Soccer Player Rankings. In all, he made 57 appearances for UVA over three seasons, with six goals and seven assists.