Cosmos add a Pair

 

 

 

 

PATERSON, NJ (Jan. 8, 2025)—The New York Cosmos continue to prepare for their highly-anticipated return to competition with the signing of an additional two players, bringing the club’s first-team roster to 19.

 

Fitting with the Cosmos’ recruitment philosophy, one player, winger Christian Koffi, is a proven performer at the professional level while the other, center back Luis Del Rio, is an intriguing and promising young prospect. Their contracts are subject to league and federation approval.

 

The Cosmos are gearing up for their 21st season of competitive outdoor soccer, which will begin March 14 with a USL League One regular season match against Portland Hearts of Pine at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ. The Cosmos will play at least 19 USL League One and Prinx Tires USL Cup games at Hinchliffe, the iconic and refurbished 8,000-seat venue adjacent to the Paterson Great Falls.

 

See below for more on the Cosmos’ two new players, along with Head Coach Davide Corti’s thoughts on each:

 

 

Koffi, 25, is a stylish and skillful winger and attacking midfielder from Paris who has played in France, Italy, Spain and the U.S. He spent 2025 in MLS Next Pro with Huntsville City FC (Nashville SC’s reserve team), tallying an impressive 11 goals and six assists in 20 appearances. He had a goal and assist in Huntsville’s 2-0 MLS Next Pro playoff win at Chattanooga FC on Oct. 19. Koffi also produced a pair of two-goal performances in MLS Next Pro regular season play: at Chicago Fire II on March 9 and at Crown Legacy FC on Aug. 2.

 

Koffi developed at AS Monaco and Fiorentina, helping the latter win the prestigious Coppa Italia Primavera, Italy’s top youth knockout competition, in 2019 and 2020. Koffi made his pro debut in fall 2020 with Cesena FC in Italy’s Serie C. He signed with Como 1907 in early 2021, returned to France to play for SC Sètois and then spent the 2022-23 season with CF Intercity in Spain’s third tier.

 

He moved to the U.S. in early 2024 and joined Chicago Fire II, notching two goals and seven assists in 27 MLS Next Pro regular season and playoff matches. Koffi also played for the Fire first team in Leagues Cup games against Sporting Kansas City and CD Toluca.

 

Corti: “Christian is a player that can be effective on the wing one v. one, and he’s very talented in terms of speeding up the play or slowing the game as well. He’s an experienced player and we think those experiences taught him how to read the game in a different way. We’re hoping he’s going to bring that experience and be very adaptable to what we want to do, while helping the younger guys learn and develop. He can dribble opponents very well, and he can unbalance a defense.”

 

 

Del Rio is an 18-year-old center back from Florida who was evaluated at a youth combine by Cosmos Scout and Manager of Youth Partnerships Jose Angulo. Del Rio played most recently for Doral SC’s ECNL team and went to high school at the Divine Savior Academy in Doral, Fla.

 

Corti: “We invited him in and despite his young age, he was very composed on the ball and very calm. He’s a left center back, and he fits the profile of the young, talented players we’re trying to bring on board. Of course he needs to improve in many areas, but he has the height [6’3”] and body structure. He needs to get a little stronger, but in terms of technique and soccer IQ, he has what he needs.”

 

The Cosmos expect to announce additional player signings in the coming

weeks.