'01 #usynt striker Aziel Jackson, who's netted 10 goals the last two season with NYRB Academy, is playing with Toulouse FC— Joey (@USAprospects) August 16, 2017
Kid looks pretty good. Surprised he hasn't gotten any callups for a youth team yet. Particularly because NYRB always gets call ups for their youth players. How many US Soccer players have a song written specifically for them. Father's a Jazz Musician. Must have a Euro passport going to France at age 16. He's only 15 yrs and about 10 months so hopefully not jumping the gun. http://nyrb.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=1400406&player=28317170 https://www.amazon.com/Aziel-Dance/dp/B002R9OCS8# http://wbgo.org/post/sportsjam-drummer-ali-jacksons-son-brings-his-rhythm-pitch#stream/0
This is his dad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Jackson_(jazz_drummer) Didn't find anything in his background that suggests an EU connection. Pretty much US born & raised.
Should we start a thread for his father? Under total guess possibility: Dad travels to France as Yank abroad Jazz Performer and meets Mrs. Ali Jackson who is French.
Victoire courte du @ToulouseFC chez le voisin @balmafoot 0-1 Aziel Jackson est le buteur @LesVioletsCom @EspoirsduFoot #U17Nat— labinocle81 (@labimocle81) September 23, 2017 He scored a while back for Toulouse Not sure if this is the same goal, but here's a goal from a corner I think. Scoured Toulouse forums, rough google translate of course, "The American pocket gaming leader is in the process of acclimatization. Still a little slow in his decision making, he seems to improve over games. Technically gifted, he must meet the physical requirements of the National level" Looks like they're saying he got an assist some time as well.
Still with the U17s, scored against SC Bastia a while back. Hard to keep up with him so its entirely plausible he's scored or assisting other times. http://www.tfc.info/tags/u17
He's got a website now where there's a lot of good stuff. https://www.azieljackson.com/ Talks extensively about his development, his aspirations such as winning a Balon D'or, playing for Barca, winning the CL, and winning a World Cup (presumably with the US). Also talked about signing a professional contract by the end of the season, I'm not sure if he ever got that. His highlights are at the bottom of the page, his YT channel has more stuff. Edit: I just saw on their forums he's apparently leaving on a free. I believe the U17s won the title and he scored 4 goals and 3 assists.
He is now playing for Blagnac in France's 5th tier. https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/aziel-jackson/285943/
He returned to the US and is now with Crossfire Premier U18/19 http://cros.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12112320&player=898895843
Notes: At #MNUFC open-to-media training at Allianz Field on Tuesday, #Loons striker Ramon Abila is not participating, but doing his own workout. Bakaye Dibassy and Niko Hansen are also out; they have thigh injuries. Aziel Jackson remains with #Loons, and club wants to sign him.— Andy Greder (@andygreder) April 20, 2021
They signed him (last week), trading a third-round 2022 pick to NYRB for the rights. Why not a fourth-rounder, you ask? Young American players: so hot right now. From the inbox: Jackson is a product of the New York Red Bull Academy, where he joined in 2014 at age 13. At age 16, he moved to France with his family and played with Toulouse FC for two seasons, he was the first American signed by the team. He played with amateur team Crossfire FC when he returned to the U.S. from 2019-2020 and trained with Seattle Sounders in 2020. Jackson joined the Minnesota United training camp ahead of the 2021 season, and quickly impressed the coaching staff and teammates
Snip: And according to German journalist Manuel Vath, Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and Bundesliga Two pair Paderborn 07 and Hannover 96 are interested in adding the attacking midfielder, who has also scored two goals in three matches for St Louis City’s first team, to their squad this summer. https://www.soccertimes.com/2023/04/30/aziel-jackson-transfer-news
A bit more on the Euro interest: According to sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen and 2. Bundesliga teams SC Paderborn and Hannover 96 are currently scouting the 21-year-old striker. https://www.transfermarkt.us/aziel-...-scouted-by-bundesliga-clubs/view/news/421197
Ha. I think you cited the original source, which I should've done, rather than the write-up of what your source wrote.
Looks like it was just posted today, so perhaps the secondary source was clairvoyant. (ETA: Veth put this out on Instagram a few days before). [And those who know of Veth know *not* to fail to credit him multiple times.]