Former DC United academy member Alexis Cerritos has left the u19 team, and signed for Pachuca in Mexico btw. One of the few really promising u19 players is now gone. https://www.laprensagrafica.com/dep...o-con-el-Pachuca-de-Mexico-20190126-0208.html
Going from memory here so forgive if some is a bit off U17/18 is the highest level that's considered a youth team Basically by signing a pro contract Yes, rules wise they can, they could even play with DCU in a friendly without losing it. There was talk about pro players being upset about this provision, so I don't know if it passes muster with the union, but NCAA wise it's no longer a problem. They changed this rule several years back because the cost of compliance investigations was too high.
I thought u19's were the highest. The team where Cerritos was, Kyle Davis, Christian Sorto. Thats the u19 team. Then the team with Moses, Griffin Yow etc are u17's?
You're right, they re-jiggered it to where the highest was U18/19. I think that level is to cover basically through end of their HS graduation year, so a lot of guys would happen to turn 19 during that time.
'02 defender formerly with Virginia Development Academy— We Are Being Overrun in Midfield (@OverrunMidfield) January 28, 2019
Which makes sense. The next question is did the club make a legitimate contract offer to him to secure his MLS rights.
I think you missed the thrust of my question, which was "when?" DCU should be aware that its own academy player has real pro talent well ahead of a European club, so it shouldn't be a direct competition.
Congrats to @DCUyouth MF Philip Bogdanov (‘03) (@footskiller10) on his callup to the Russian U16 YNT, for their upcoming Training Camp and friendlies in preparation for the Euro 2019 campaign!#RepDMV x #DMVBred 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/05XIg4TIQe— DMV Soccer (@DMVSoccer96) February 7, 2019
good article in CP: https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com...ly-two-mls-teams-that-charges-for-its-academy
Sigh. He has that option now, because he's 18. If DC had offered a contract at 16, he wouldn't have had that option, because it is not legal for minors to sign professional contracts across international borders.
Right. I don’t think you are understanding me. He was never at any age interested in playing professionally with DCU. So he was never going to sign with them, at 16 or any age.
I don't know the kid, but this seems dubious in general. Why would you slow down your career own development for two years just to screw over the team that's training you? I get he 'wants to play in Europe'--they all want to play in Europe. But a) they don't all get to, so it's dumb to burn bridges and b) sticking on a youth team until 18 is not the best way to get there.
MLS Link to the U17 Generation Adidas Cup: Teams in Group A play against the teams in Group B Link to the schedule shows our results so far. Doing well. https://www.mlssoccer.com/generation-adidas-cup/2019/teams-groups
I saw a tweet yesterday showing video of some Academy kid named Ted (with a last name you wouldn't historically associate with a "Ted" ) scoring a helluva goal (after some typical u-17 bad stints at possession) where he turns on the ball and weaves thru a few folks before burying it. I copied the tweet link to paste in here but then work intervened and I forgot to post it ... stupid work, four-letter-word ending in K. I can't remember who tweeted it (MLS? DC's academy?, some rando?) so I may or may not find it again.
I'll send you an invoice. 🔥🔥🔥What a run & finish from @dcunited's Theodore Ku-DiPietro! // #GACup by @adidassoccer pic.twitter.com/eFZHj5yKdc— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2019
Teddy Ku-DiPietro Goes by Ku-Di (Koo-Dee) Academy reportedly tried to get him for a number of years - obviously they finally did this past season. He played with Arlington - won a USYSA National Championship with the '02 team at the U16 level. A friend's kid played on a team that lost to the Arlington team during that tournament - said Ku-Di completely dominated the midfield and the other team couldn't do anything... He's a junior in high school this year but I heard he's working to try and graduate early - don't know if that's going to happen or not or if that means this June or maybe in December... 100% is planning to go pro. Will be interesting to see whether he does it with DCU or not...