Ryan Meara loaned to NYC FC, RBNY get Sal Zizzo

Yesterday we reported a rumored trade/loan deal between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. Today it's confirmed as both the Red Bulls and NYC FC announced it via their respective websites. The deal will send goalkeeper Ryan Meara on a year long loan to play with NYC FC. In exchange for the loan, NYC FC is sending midfielder/forward Sal Zizzo, who they picked up in the expansion draft yesterday, on a "permanent basis" (read trade) to the Red Bulls. Meara, in typical loan fashion, will not be allowed to play in matches against the Red Bulls. Unlike a traditional loan though, an intra-league loan does not allow for a player to be recalled mid-season, so he will be with NYC FC for all of 2015.

It seems that the Red Bulls win this deal. This allows Meara to get time as a MLS starter, something that isn't going to happen with a healthy Luis Robles, and since it's a loan deal, they'll get Meara back in 2016. In exchange for the loan, they get Sal Zizzo, a midfielder with MLS experience (89 games since 2010) at a relatively cheap cap hit ($91,045.71 Guaranteed in 2014). Zizzo also has experience in Euope having played 45 times for Hannover 96 from 2007-2010. He's also represented the US at the U-18, U-20, and U-23 levels, appearing in the 2007 U-20 World Cup and starting all 5 matches as they reached the Quarterfinals.