USL era, winning the double (2015-2022) Red Bull New York II were founded on January 21, 2015, when the
New York Red Bulls acquired the rights to start a
USL club. Red Bulls II competes in the second tier of American soccer and serves as a reserve side for the first team as well as a developmental stage for young prospects and academy players. The club follows in the footsteps of many
MLS clubs who created USL sides to help promote youth development throughout the nation. It was announced on March 2, 2015, that former MetroStars and Red Bulls player,
John Wolyniec would be the club's new head coach. Wolyniec previously served as an assistant coach to the senior team and the academy. Former Red Bulls defender,
Ibrahim Sekagya will also serve on his coaching staff. On March 19, 2015, the soccer club announced the signing of their first-ever player, and former academy standout,
Tyler Adams. Following their first signing, the club's first roster consisted of senior team players who were loaned down, draft picks, academy players and local trialists. A week later, on March 28, the club played in their inaugural match, drawing 0–0 against the
Rochester Rhinos. Senior team loanee,
Anatole Abang scored the club's first ever goal in a 4–1 victory against
Toronto FC II, marking the first victory in club history. A New York Red Bulls team composed mostly of NYRB II players defeated
Chelsea F.C. in a friendly on July 22, 2015. After spending the majority of the 2015 and 2016 season playing at
Red Bull Arena, the club announced on May 10, 2016, that their new home field would be at
Montclair State University's
MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field starting in 2017. The club won their first ever trophy on September 7, 2016, claiming the Regular Season Title (the equivalent of the
Supporters' Shield) 4–1 victory at
Harrisburg City Islanders. On October 23, Red Bulls II won their first USL Cup after a 5–1 victory against
Swope Park Rangers at
Red Bull Arena. For the abbreviated
2020 USL Championship season, due to the global
COVID-19 pandemic, Red Bulls II are playing home matches at Red Bull Arena with no fans in attendance. On February 7, 2022, the club appointed Gary Lewis as new head coach. However, amid a dismal first season that saw the team win just three of 34 games, Lewis was fired in July. Assistant coach
Ibrahim Sekagya was named interim coach.
MLS Next Pro era (2023-present) MLS announced that it would be one of the new eight teams to join
MLS Next Pro in 2023. Sekagya, who had been with the team as an assistant since its founding in 2015, was named the full-time head coach to start the 2023 season. New York made the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2023 before falling to
New England Revolution II. In 2024, they failed to make the postseason but re-established their reputation for promoting players to first team action, as
Roald Mitchell,
Ibrahim Kasule,
AJ Marcucci,
Omar Valencia and
Mohammed Sofo all made their debuts for the first team in either 2024 or 2025. After a first half of 2025 that saw the team top the overall table through their first 13 games, Sekagya was promoted to a full-time assistant coach for the first team, after doing double duty with both teams through the previous 18 months. Sekagya was replaced by former US international and ex-MetroStar
Michael Bradley. Red Bulls II finished atop both the Eastern Conference and the Northeast Division, securing the No. 1 seed in the East and placing second overall in the league table. In the postseason, New York won the Eastern Conference playoffs and then captured the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup, defeating Colorado Rapids 2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Following the title, Bradley signed with Red Bull New York, becoming head coach of the club’s first team. ==Club culture==