Man City admitted transfer mistake as Frank Lampard caught up in MLS storm

Frank Lampard’s Coventry face Man City on Saturday – a team he knows well.

Lampard spent the 2014/15 season with City after leaving Chelsea on a free transfer, having played nearly 650 times for the club and becoming their record goalscorer.

Getty

It was a strange sight to see the midfielder in the light blue of City, but the move was shrouded in controversy.

In July 2014, it was announced that Lampard had signed a two-year contract with New York FC in Major League Soccer.

NYCFC’s parent club, Man City, then announced a few weeks later that he would join them on loan until January 2015.

But Lampard did not end up joining the MLS six months later, it was revealed he had signed a six-month contract extension with City.

It transpired that he had never actually signed a contract with NYCFC, instead penning a non-binding ‘commitment’ to join the team.

This provoked fury among fans in New York, with chants of ‘Where’s Frank Lampard?’ at the 2015 MLS Draft.

A clarification issued by City at the time said: “The statement on the NYCFC website in July saying Lampard’s two-year contract took effect from Aug 1, 2014 was a mistake. [The] initial statement on City’s website that it was a loan was also an error.” 

‘Error of judgment’

Don Garber, MLS commissioner at the time, told Sports Illustrated: “If there was an error in judgment on this, it was not just announcing that he would come in July and figuring out how to manage the start of the season, no different than what happened with Robbie Keane or Thierry Henry or David Beckham.

“I could understand why their fans are unhappy, and I do believe [NYCFC] will work hard to build back that trust. They’ve started that process already. I sensed this was coming and it didn’t surprise me when they ultimately made their decision.

“You’re dealing with a very unusual set of circumstances. Frank has become one of the most important players in Man City’s season and he’s scored critical goals to have them tied for first place in the Premier League.

Getty

“They were faced with a difficult decision. I’m going to be supportive of all our ownership groups, making them aware of my point of view. But we need to work hard now to move forward and recognise that Frank will be joining this team in July along with other Designated Players, who throughout the history of the Designated Player program have almost always joined in July.

“I think it’s important to say this: These guys [NYCFC] are very committed to MLS and committed to New York …. They have made an unprecedented investment in MLS and New York City, and they are going to continue to do so.”

Lampard did eventually join NYCFC in 2015 but his first season was hampered by injury.

By May 2016, two years after being announced as one of the club’s designated players and given a $6million contract, Lampard had played just ten games for the American side.

He was booed by fans and branded the ‘worst signing in MLS history’ over the saga, but quickly won them over with a strong second season, scoring 13 goals in 19 appearances.

Lampard at City

Lampard played 38 games in all competitions for Manuel Pellegrini’s City team that season, before committing himself to NYCFC.

Getty

He was given an emotional farewell by City in what would be his final game in the Premier League, even being made captain for the day.

Speaking in 2024, he said: “It couldn’t have gone much better. It was an emotional day when I look back. Being made captain was a great honour.

“For the crowd to show me so much respect, to score the goal which felt like fate for me, it was a really nice personal send-off for me.  

“To then be presented with a signed shirt, which I still have as a picture in my house, was emotional.  

“I wasn’t a Man City player all my career or a large part of my career so I didn’t expect anything from it. To be lifted up at the end, it finished off a really special year for me on a personal note.

“And the Etihad crowd? Their warmth towards me surprised me. But I was so pleasantly surprised by it all. They were fantastic.

“How exciting a signing was I coming in at 36? It’s not a progressive signing.  

“But I’d like to think they saw my desire, my industry, my work ethic and when I came out on the pitch, I’m not a flashy person, I just try and impact games.  

“I did feel their warmth. I felt it on and off the pitch too.  I lived pretty central, in Deansgate, and I saw a lot of fans out and about and they were so kind and gracious with me. That made me feel good.”

Lampard’s return to the Etihad

The 48-year-old heads back to the Etihad with recently promoted Coventry.

Coventry are yet to pick up a single point on their return to the Premier League and face another huge test on Saturday at 3pm.

Getty

Speaking before Saturday’s game, Lampard said: “I always thought I’d finish my career at Chelsea when it was clear that wasn’t to be and then the Manchester City option came on. I think it was 35 or 36.

“The idea to move to the Champions then was one that I was nervous of because of my Chelsea history but also I was quite excited. I suppose maybe my own ego felt good that the Champions wanted me to come even at that age. 

“I didn’t realise how much I’d enjoy going from London to Manchester, I didn’t realise it isn’t that long until I was on the train, I did it quite a lot.

“It really opened my eyes to a new club sitting in a new dressing room seeing another major club as Chelsea are and were at that point, how they did it.”