:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27928859/20120803_jel_ae5_393.0.jpg)
Paulo Mendes, Joseph Nane, and Jimmy Nealis will all be returning to the New York Cosmos in 2014. The club announced that that all three have signed new contracts, without disclosing the details of those deals.
Mendes took over a starting role midway through the season, scoring a pair of goals in his eight appearances. Seven of those appearances came as a starter, while the 23-year old came on as a substitute just once.
Nane started the opener against Ft. Lauderdale, but quickly lost his regular place to the impressive Danny Szetela after being sent off against Carolina. The 26-year old was still a valuable piece on the bench, providing a physical presence that Gio Savarese managed to use regularly even when he wasn't starting.
Nealis had less of an impact last season, starting the season finale without any appearances on the bench. The 22-year old defender is a Long Island native, and played his college soccer at Georgetown. He was selected 37th overall in the 2013 MLS Superdraft by the Houston Dynamo, but suffered an injury during training camp which required surgery. The Massapequa native was released by the Dynamo, and signed with the Cosmos after rehabbing in New York.
