New England Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo had three overriding priorities when he assumed the position on a full-time basis after the 2023 season.

The first was to find a new head coach to replace Bruce Arena and the second was to land an experienced goalkeeper after MLS All-Star Djordje Petrovic decamped for the English Premier League.

Onalfo satisfied both requisites in grand fashion when he hired two-time MLS Cup winner Caleb Porter as field manager and brought in Slovakian National Team goalkeeper Henrich Ravas, who has three clean sheets in five games this season.

Onalfo completed his to do list trinity Thursday when the team announced dynamic three-time MLS All-Star midfielder Carles Gil had signed a four-year extension with the club as a designated player.

Gil, the 2021 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player and two-time MLS Best XI selection, will be onboard through the 2026 season, with an additional one-year club option for 2027.

“When I stepped into the sporting director role, the work immediately began to extend Carles and ensure he would continue his remarkable MLS career right here in New England,” said Onalfo.

“Carles have been one of the most impactful players in our league since the day he arrived and he will go down in history as one of the greatest ever to wear a Revolution uniform. Carles delivers everything you could ask of a captain and leader.”

Gil will begin earning his new bounty when the Revolution (0-2-0) resume MLS play on Saturday night (7:30) against Atlanta United FC (0-1-0) at Mercedes Benz Arena.

Gil, 31, became an impact player upon arrival in 2019. He was named MLS Newcomer of the Year and went on to become team captain. He has emerged as the league’s leading playmaker and a reliable scorer, earning him team MVP honors three times. In combined MLS regular season and playoff games, Gil has logged an MLS-best 68 assists since the 2019 season.

Gil, a native of Valencia, Spain, needs 11 more helpers to become the Revolution’s all-time leader. Gil has scored 38 goals and was the Revolution’s Golden Boot winner in 2023. He is two tallies short of becoming the fifth player in team history to have 40 goals and 40 assists.

“During my time in New England with the Revolution, I have been able to rediscover my joy on the field and I am at my happiest when I am playing winning football for our supporters,” said Gil.

“I have so much more to give this club and to the supporters, who give me all their backing and confidence as their captain. I am excited to continue my career in New England and will give everything on the pitch to win trophies for the club.”

Gil did not participate in the Revolution’s 4-0 pummeling of LD Alajuelense in leg one of their home and home Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.  The second leg will take place March 14 at Estadio Alejandro Morea Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

That was the Revolution’s fifth match in an arduous stretch of eight games in 26 days and Gil had started the previous four. The Revolution can’t afford to fall further behind in the MLS Eastern Conference after their 3-1 loss at D.C. United in the season opener and 1-0 setback to Toronto FC last Sunday at Gillette Stadium. A fresh Gil will be needed in Atlanta to secure a need win in league competition.

“That’s five games for us and we’ve won three of them and the other two league games we played very well,” said Porter.  “I think our guys have shown that even though we haven’t won in the league, we are very confident and these guys believe in the way we are doing things and the approach that we have.”