Axel Levry to Vancouver?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

This is an interesting one. The usually reliable K-Dorm blog says:

Former Patriots midfielder and K Dorm Alum Axel Levry has departed Fairfax after one college season to join the Vancouver Whitecaps development academy. Levry, who trained with 1860 Munich last summer, hails from Fort Washington, MD.

http://soccerkickingitwithkdorm.blogspot.com/2009/01/patriots-midfielder-goes-pro.html

Levry, born in the Ivory Coast, is a 1990 so he's eligible for the current U20s and the next Olympic team.

I've stopped tracking Canada-based players in YA so this seemed like a better fit.

[pwip]

I saw that also. I understand this move? can someone explain why you would go the whitecaps?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

I saw that also. I understand this move? can someone explain why you would go the whitecaps?

If it's true, it's curious but interesting. USL clubs don't have a long history of signing youth-aged players to pro contracts but Vancouver seems to have one of the better-run organizations in that league.

It's certainly possible that he's making more money there than he would with a non-GA MLS deal, and also certainly arguable that he'd have a better shot at playing time in that league as opposed to MLS at his age.

[Sandon Mibut]

This is likely a one-off signing and not the start of a trend.

But, if the USL is gonna start pursuing elite underclassmen, competing with MLS for their signatures, well, that's a very interesting development.

Personally, while it's not as glamorous as MLS, signing with the USL could be more appealing - especially if the money is equal - as playing time is likely easier to come by in the USL-1.

[Pagefan]

If he gets lucky, Vancouver will be awarded and MLS franchise soon. The Whitecaps do seem to have a big emphasis on youth with development—their residency team plays in the PDL

[USvsIRELAND]

Maybe they know something(MLS) that persuaded him to sign......? :D

[Peretz48]

If he gets lucky, Vancouver will be awarded and MLS franchise soon. The Whitecaps do seem to have a big emphasis on youth with development—their residency team plays in the PDL
The Whitecaps have an excellent club structure, from youth teams to PDL to USL-1. Their youth teams periodically travel to So. Calif. and other locales, seeking good competition.

[#1 Feilhaber and Adu]

The Whitecaps have an excellent club structure, from youth teams to PDL to USL-1. Their youth teams periodically travel to So. Calif. and other locales, seeking good competition.


They also have alot of their youth players signing abroad now with good clubs. Their latest was an 18-year old to E.Cottbus.

If Montreal,Toronto,Vancouver, and Ottawa all have MLS teams you would most likely see Canada join the US and Mexico and create the Big three, if the the Canadian FO gets their booooooots out of thier butts.

[lumps]

K-Dorm has the update on Levry

http://soccerkickingitwithkdorm.blogspot.com/

[USvsIRELAND]

http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/backofthenet/archive/2009/02/10/caps-add-jackson-and-levry.aspx

[striker2019]

What's the motivation behind this move? Is it that he'll receive better pro prep training compared to DI college or straight up joining an MLS squad? The MLS teams definitely aren't good for developing young talent, it's pretty rare that one of those youth nat talents gets any amount of playing time (ask Brek Shea). It would seem that joining a Euro program would be best if he's not ready to make the jump to the pros. Was there just no Euro interest?

[Pagefan]

Well, with news that the Whitecaps will become the next MLS expansion team, this move by Levry seems quite brilliant. Or lucky. Either way, it's worked out great for him, assuming the Whitecaps keep their residency team once they move to MLS.

[Smithsoccer1721]

Well, with news that the Whitecaps will become the next MLS expansion team, this move by Levry seems quite brilliant. Or lucky. Either way, it's worked out great for him, assuming the Whitecaps keep their residency team once they move to MLS.

It is a requirement for MLS teams to have an academy/youth teams so I assume since they have theirs so established it would continue to operate.

[Werdman89]

Axel Levry has been loaned out to recently relegated 2. Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus. Looks like he'll be playing with the U-23s.

Levry, 19, joins Cottbus’ U-23 team after making 11 PDL appearances for 904 minutes of action this summer. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound youngster had three goals and two assists through 23 matches as a freshman at George Washington University in Fairfax, Virginia. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the native of Fort Washington, Maryland, was a member of the United States U-17 national team and earned 20 international caps between 2005 and 2007.

http://www.soccer365.com/us_news/story_25809212907.php

[D-Wall]

Why didn't Levry play during the WYC? Was there eligibility issues with citizenship like Isreal Sesay? I remember that those two were to of the better players that didn't go to the World Cup and people blasted Hackworth for taking a sub-par team.

Does anybody have background info?

[wcssstar33]

good for him. Are these trials with an intent to sign contracts? Or just a change in scenery temporarily?