Matthew Dos Santos Gets His First Team Contract with Red Bull New York After Two Loan Stints

By Daniel Feuerstein | March 7th, 2026 | Harrison, NJ

Another Graduate of Red Bull Two goes to the first team

After two short loan stints from Red Bull New York’s MLS Next Pro Team, the club officially gave their promising 17-year-old left back Mattthew Dos Santos, a first-team contract, and will now join the backline in an official capacity. The Sandy Hook, Connecticut, native will be on the left side, linking up with Emil Forsberg and Jorge Ruvalcaba for attacking plays and defending along with his backline teammates Dylan Nealis, Justin Che, and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. After impressing in the club’s first two matches away at Orlando City and the home opener against the New England Revolution.

“We’re very pleased to sign Matty to a first-team contract. He’s a young player who has shown strong growth through our pathway and has earned this opportunity with his commitment and performances,” said Head of Sport Julian de Guzman. “We believe Matty has the mentality and potential to continue developing within our environment, and we’re excited to support the next step in his progression.”

Dos Santos has played the last two seasons with Red Bull New York 2 in the MLS Next Pro and helped win the 2025 MLS Next Pro Championship. Last season, made 21 appearances, scoring three goals and earning three assists. He also played in all four matches of the MLS Next Pro Playoffs and contributed with two assists in the playoffs. He also delivered the match-tieing assist against Philadelphia Union 2 in the semi-finals.

“Matty has worked hard every day to put himself in this position. He’s shown a real willingness to learn, a good understanding of what we ask from players in his role, and the character we value in this group,” said Head Coach Michael Bradley. “This contract is a positive step for him, and now the focus is on continuing to push his development and helping the team in any way he can.”

Dos Santos was a member of the Red Bull New York Academy before making his professional debut with Red Bulls 2. He was on the 2023 U-15 Red Bull Academy side that won the MLS Next U-15 Age Group Championship. Began with the pre-aged group at the age of nine in 2017, and has featured for the U.S. U-17 National Team with three appearances in June of 2025.

EA 26 Soccer

Level up your matchday between matchdays. EA 26 Soccer is out now — BUY NOW

Bad Dawg Sports: Real reporters – Real access – No nonsense

f you want more than the headline, you’re in the right place.

Bad Dawg Sports covers the Red Bulls with context — what the club is trying to build, what it’s willing to risk, and what the results actually say when the noise dies down. No recycled quotes. No empty outrage. Just reporting, analysis, and the stuff you only notice when you’re paying attention.

Subscribe to the Bad Dawg Sports newsletter — just $2/year for a limited time — and get the full week’s biggest stories, plus the behind-the-scenes layer you won’t find in the postgame soundbites.