SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former Sacramento State men's soccer goalkeeper Mac Learned has signed a First Team contract with New York City FC for the upcoming 2026 season, the club announced on Friday.
The contract includes options for the June 2027 and the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. He becomes the second active Hornet on a Major League Soccer roster, joining Benji Kikanovic, who recently wrapped up his fifth season with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2025. When he makes his debut, Learned would become the third Sacramento State men's soccer alum to appear in an MLS match along with Kikanovic and Jamel Mitchell (1993-96), who debuted with the Kansas City Wizards in 1997.
After taking part in preseason camp with the First Team, Learned signed on with New York City FC II ahead of the 2025 campaign, starting 14 matches and playing 1,260 minutes in net. He finished with 54 saves — which ranked No. 12 in the league — and one shutout. He made his MLS NEXT Pro debut in March with a pair of saves against Columbus Crew 2.
A native of Lincoln, Calif., Learned started 44 of his 47 career appearances with the Hornets in net from 2021-24, logging 3,869 minutes and 201 saves to go with a 1.70 goals against average and a .734 save percentage. Hit 201 career saves, and 4.28 saves per match, are seventh on the school's career list while his minutes played are sixth.
Learned's 88 saves as a junior 2023 rank ninth on the school's single-season chart while his 5.50 saves per match that year are the sixth-most in a season in school history. He led the Big West Conference in both categories — as well as save percentage (.779) — that year, while standing third in the NCAA in total saves and seventh in saves per game.
At one point during the 2023 campaign, the three-time Big West All-Academic Team selection led the nation in saves for six consecutive weeks near the end of the regular season.
New York City FC opens the 2026 season on the road, facing the LA Galaxy on Feb. 22.
