Stephen Payne at Varzim SC (Portugal)

Another Chicago Magic Alum looks to be going abroad. There has been no announcement from the club yet but UCLA Bruin Stephen Payne reports via twitter he has passed the medical for Estroril Praia SAD in Portugal's Primeira Liga.

Successful Trainings... #Thankful #ComingSoon 🙌🏾🇵🇹⚽️👁 @estorilpraiasad pic.twitter.com/vWWf97FwZ0

— Stephen Payne (@stephenopayne) October 25, 2016

Medical completed⚽️🇵🇹🙌🏾

— Stephen Payne (@stephenopayne) October 17, 2016

Chasing my dreams...✌🏾️✈️🇵🇹

— Stephen Payne (@stephenopayne) October 9, 2016

Stephen is a F/MF '97 born in Alabama and attended two U 18 camps in 2014.

From his UCLA profile:





2015 -- Appeared in 13 games as a substitute at forward and midfielder, logging 220 minutes … posted one goal and one assist (three points) on the season … recorded his first career point with an assist on Seyi Adekoya’s second goal in a 4-3 overtime win over UC Irvine on September 27 … netted his first career goal from the penalty spot in a 4-0 victory over San Diego State on October 12.

U.S. National Team -- Attended the U-18 USA National Team camp in April and October 2014.

High School/Club -- Four-year varsity soccer letterwinner at Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest, Ill.) under head coach Paul Makovec ... rated as a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer ... ranked No. 137 overall in the Top Drawer Soccer IMG Academy 150 ... ranked as the No. 46 midfielder by Top Drawer Soccer ... ranked No. 28 overall in the College Soccer News 2015 Top 150 ... ranked No. 24 overall in the O When the Yanks Class of 2015 Top 100 ... IHSSCA Illinois All-State selection in 2014 ... totaled 24 goals and 14 assists as a senior in 2014 ... competed for Chicago Magic PSG Academy ... also competed in the 1600, 800 and 400 in track at Lake Forest Academy.

Personal -- Full name: Stephen Oyebolaji Payne ... born on June 16, 1997 in Birmingham, Ala. ... parents are Oyeleke Payne and Mojemilat Payne ... has two sisters, Nicole and Toni ... decided to attend UCLA for the great academic and soccer environment, as well as the general atmosphere around campus ... lists his biggest athletic thrill so far as getting an opportunity to play for the U.S. U-18 National Team ... admires Arsenal FC midfielder Theo Walcott ... lists his hobby as playing video games ... interested in majoring in Pharmacy.

TDS also had a brief piece when he moved to UCLA that adds a little more:

Boys Commitments: Alabama to Chicago to LA
Article Written by J.R. Eskilson
Published: August 1, 2014

Another youth national team player is headed to Westwood, California. Chicago Magic PSG midfielder/winger and Birmingham, Alabama-native Stephen Payne made his verbal commitment to the Bruins last week.

“UCLA has always been a huge interest of mine,” Payne told TopDrawerSoccer. “Once I stepped on their campus for an unofficial visit, I felt a great vibe with the community, the soccer program, and the location of the school as well. What really drew me to UCLA was how well I interacted with both the head coach Jorge Salcedo and the assistant coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. Also my family found that it was the best fit for me as well.”

Payne’s path to UCLA has been windy. He moved to the Chicago area at the start of high school in search of better competition.

“I had to adjust my lifestyle leaving home my for my freshman year for Lake Forest Academy which really made me mature and prepped me for what I will face for college,” Payne said. “Making that move to a prep school really made me grow up. Now making a move to college again which is now far away wasn't really a huge deal for me.”

The commitment has been rewarded though. Payne appeared with the U.S. U18 Men’s National Team at a training camp at the National Training Center in Carson, California in April.

Along with national team scouts, some of the top college programs also took notice of Payne.

“I was considering schools such as North Carolina, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Pittsburgh but my family and I ultimately found the best possible fit for me at UCLA,” Payne said. “I thank God for the schools that recruited me and gave me a chance at their programs but I am also very happy I found the best school possible, which is UCLA.”

Payne hails from a talented family. His older sister, Toni, is a member of the U.S. U20 Women’s National Team. She was an All-ACC Freshman Team honoree after her first season with Duke. His younger sister, Nicole, is a member of the U.S. U14 Girls National Team.

Dynamic on the ball and lethal in front of the goal, Payne adds to an already stacked 2015 recruiting class for the Bruins. He joins David Chavez, Pablo Pelaez, Malcolm Jones, Jackson Yueill, David Villegas, Erik Holt, and Matthew Powell for the UCLA 2015 recruiting class.

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...ommitments:-alabama-to-chicago-to-la_aid33315

 

I don't think he did. I was tipped to his tweet by Seyi Adekoya, who was also out on trials recently (with Sabbi at Las Palmas) but left his UCLA options open, which it appears, Payne did not.

Can someone knowledgeable of their academy provide some insight on the "Magic" Chicago seems to possess. Their alums seem to have success getting trials and contracts in Southern Europe (though not, evidently, with PSG).

 

Looks like he is finally officially with Estoril.

From zerozero:



A profile from a Nigerian mag:

Interview | 🇳🇬🇺🇸 #Estoril 🇵🇹 winger .@Stephen_Payne97 talks to us about his journey so far, playing pro. #football.https://t.co/WfScUSFOoV pic.twitter.com/oXtHvPMbWh

— Sportive23 (@Sportive_23) January 16, 2017

He's still not on the club website but they don't really have a section for Academy or reserves. In the profile, he says he is playing for their U23s which, to my knowledge, is not an official competition in Portugal.

 

Glad to score my first League goal with the U-23s! Have to keep working and pushing for more! 🙌🏾⚽️

— Stephen Payne (@stephenopayne) February 19, 2017

I'm happy for the kid and I'm glad he scored because now, by the process of elimination I know (I think) where he is:

Estoril Praia B, who play in the Lisbon Football Association, 2nd Division, or 5th tier. They beat a club called Talaíde 3 - 5 on the 19th. I can't think of any other team he might be playing on that played on the 19th. The U19s played on the 18th but that would have popped up on zerozero.pt by now.

What's strange is I think Payne is age eligible for the U19s (Juniores A), which would arguably play better football, but he hasn't played a minute for them. To be fair, I think it took several months for him to get his clearance to play so he is still pretty new, playing since the New Year or thereabouts, iirc.

 

Gotta keep going for more and more⚽️⚽️💪🏾 https://t.co/SHVrUTTCvz

— Stephen Payne (@stephenopayne) March 30, 2017

Linked article goes on to say that Payne has scored 5 in 7 appearances for the reserves. I have found nothing that backs up that statistic. Granted, detailed match reports from Estoril Praia B, which plays in the Lisboa 2nd Division, are exceptionally hard to come by.

 

That is certainly a better level. 3rd division as opposed to 2nd Lisbon. Maybe he will impress and make the first team. I just hope he steers clear of the President.

 

They must have been relegated. They had won promotion when Keaton was on the B Squad.

Edit: You're right, my bad. Divisão Elite (4th tier). Still a better level, as you pointed out.

 

It doesn't say if he started or subbed in but it said he contributed to the second goal and brought forward the good form he has shown with the B team.