J.R. Eskilson @JREskilson · May 9 Hearing that U.S. U15 BNT midfielder Juan Torres (Georgia United) is training at FC Schalke 04. A '99 from Georgia who was called into a European trip squad last month: http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2014/04/18/10/51/juan-pablo-torres http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/04/18/08/18/140418-u15bnt-delle-zazioni-roster-rel This dude I believe:
Joined KSC Lokeren in Belgium, with a contract until 2020. He's also a member of the US U18 pool. JP @juanptorres7 went 60' for @KSCLokeren in pre-season friendly https://t.co/bF2ob7kTor pic.twitter.com/gv6GYf3dK6— Dallas Cup ⚽️ (@dallascup) July 15, 2017 GAU alumni @juanptorres7 starting a new chapter in Belgium.Go on JP!— Georgia United DA (@GUnitedSA) July 14, 2017 https://www.voetbalprimeur.be/nieuw...-tekent-voor-drie-seizoenen-bij-lokeren-.html @bungadiri "Juan Torres in Belgium"
This just became official today as 99' Juan Torres turns 18. The Midfielder has signed a 3-year deal which runs through 2020 with an option for a year extension to 2021. This comes after going on trial with them in April and sticking around to play in a couple practice matches. He has plenty U16 and U18 appearances under his belt so far and of course is still eligible for the next U20 cycle. Official confirmation: OFFICIEEL: @juanptorres7 tekende zonet zijn contract voor 3 seizoenen bij Sporting Lokeren! #WelcomeTorres➡️ https://t.co/cyX64GsKu2 pic.twitter.com/zjyQ5Raw1V— KSC Lokeren - Temse (@KSCLokeren) July 26, 2017 Here's his first interview with the club:
He had a pre-forum-split thread in main YA -- perhaps they could be merged. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/juan-torres-in-belgium.2004520/
He was on the bench for their opener vs. Club Brugge. Deze spelers komen straks aan de aftrap voor de eerste competitiewedstrijd tegen @ClubBrugge! ⚪️⚫️💛 pic.twitter.com/Bw0lnxYjCY— KSC Lokeren - Temse (@KSCLokeren) July 29, 2017
http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/...has-signed-with-belgian-side-sporting-lokeren ESPN article. COngrats to Juan Pablo on this first professional contract. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Lokeren finished 11th out of 16 teams the past two years. I hope he has a chance to play early. I see their coach is Icelandic with his professional career taking place in Scandinavia and Lokeren.
On the bench today. Could make his debut and move to the real YA forum. http://www.espnfc.us/match?gameId=481136
Looks like he is available for selection for tomorrow's match: ⚽️ Selectie voor #WbeLok Verhulst, Geens, De Wolf, Maric, Marzo, Mpati, Skulason, Monsecour, Ticinovic, De Prijcker, Terki. (1/2) #Wasico— KSC Lokeren - Temse (@KSCLokeren) August 18, 2017 ⚽️ Selectie voor #WbeLok Overmeire, Torres, Aanvallers: Straetman, Slagveer, Söder, Miric, Kehli, Hupperts, De Ridder, Enoh. (2/2) #Wasico— KSC Lokeren - Temse (@KSCLokeren) August 18, 2017
On the bench: Om 20u00 begint de wedstrijd tegen @kas_eupen. Deze mannen moeten het vanavond doen! #LokEup pic.twitter.com/qlAjThZEsm— KSC Lokeren - Temse (@KSCLokeren) August 26, 2017
http://sebn.sc/sebn-5.php Had to look far and wide, but there is a stream to the game. Going to be keeping an eye on it to see if he makes his debut today. Fingers crossed.
Thats pretty good. He just turned 18, and regularly makes the bench in a good league, got his debut. I figure he might play a part for the U-20's the upcoming cycle.
Youngest player on the roster by almost a year. 1 of only 5 teenagers on the team (3 Belgians, 1 Moroccan).
And reached the playoffs at least once in the last 6-7 years IIRC. It's a shrewd move IMO. The Belgian first division is a good standard and Lokeren aren't a wealthy club, so they won't be buying in talent to solve their problems. The squad is nothing special , but there are a lot of hard-bitten journeymen who've been at several rodeos so he'll definitely have to fight for his place, but a young player with talent and the right attitude can expect to get PT. Play well and the scouts will start filing reports. One to keep an eye on,
Yes, ti sort of reminds me of Gooch's move to Metz and then Standard Liege. Could be a good way to get seen while getting some steady playing time. Glad to hear he made his first appearance.
That's pretty fast from signing to playing reserves to bench to getting in a game. If he succeeds and moves on to bigger and better things other players and their agents may encourage young Americans to give this route a try. Belgium and Portugal seem like ideal situations for kids trying to get on the field soonish.
Nope. And not likely to be. The Belgian league is kept afloat financially by being a back door to Europe (signing cheap non-EU talent themselves, third-party entities letting them "sign" their players, clubs from bigger leagues forming partnerships (Man U with Antwerp, Arsenal with Beveren and Chelsea with Sint Truiden) or simply buying clubs (PSG with Eupen, Leicester with Leuven) and the cost of adjusting would be horrendous for every team that's not called Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Standard Liege, Gent or Ghenk. Those five completely dominate the league and have the resources to be serious promotion contenders or better in BL2. The rest aren't much bigger than BL3 sides, if they're not actually smaller.