Following a trade with FC Cincinnati to move up to the 16th overall pick, the New York Red Bulls selected UC Davis defender Roy Boateng in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. The Red Bulls traded 100K in General Allocation Money for FC Cincinnati's No. 16 and 25 (first pick in the second round).

Following the selection of Boateng, the Red Bulls wrapped up the first round with Fordham forward Janos Loebe as the 22nd overall selection. New York then selected Hofstra defender Sean Nealis with the first pick in the second round (25th overall) and traded the rights to a player to be named later to Chicago for the 32nd overall pick. With the 32nd pick, the Red Bulls picked Indiana midfielder Rece Buckmaster.

Boateng, a four-year letterman at UC Davis, started 81 of the 84 possible matches for the Aggies in four seasons. The Rohnert Park, California, native was named a two-time All-Far West Region selection by United Soccer Coaches and the reigning two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year, was the highest ranked Big West player among the top 100 upperclassmen in the nation at No. 53 in 2018.

Loebe had a decorated career for Fordham in his four years as he was named the Atlantic-10 Offensive Player of the Year twice and the A-10 Rookie of the Year. The Kierspe, Germany, native, recorded 26 goals and 31 assists in 79 matches played. Loebe is the third player out of Fordham that New York has selected in franchise history, previously picking current New York Red Bulls II Head Coach John Wolyniec (seventh overall, 1998) and current goalkeeper Ryan Meara (31st overall, 2012).

Nealis was named the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year to cap off four years at Hofstra. The Massapequa, New York, native, was Hofstra's team captain in 2018 and started 69 matches in four seasons for the Pride. Alongside a strong career on the field, Nealis was named to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team, becoming just the fourth Hofstra men's soccer student-athlete in program history to earn the nod.

Buckmaster, who is a four-year letterman for the Hoosiers, appeared in all 70 matches over the last three seasons for Indiana's midfield. The 2018 Second-Team All-Big Ten midfielder led Indiana to back-to-back National Championship appearances. Buckmaster recorded five goals and 12 assists in 82 matches played.