Justin Ellis (2007) 🇺🇲🇺🇾 // Orlando CityEllis is probably the best CF you will see on MLS Next. He is a player who leaves me more impressed every time I see him. His style of play is not very common to see in players born in the United States.— Lucas Aguirre (@luksarus) January 5, 2024
Sources 🚨! Chicago Fire have signed David Poreba from Polish side Stal Mielec. The 21-year-old Polish talent spent last season with Crown Legacy FC and will initially play for Chicago’s MLS Next Pro team. #cffc #cf97 pic.twitter.com/jCJxJZgb4e— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) January 7, 2024
MLS Announces MLS NEXT Development Grant Program, Continuing Commitment to Pro Player Pathway Major League Soccer today announced the MLS NEXT Development Grant program, an initiative to recognize the significant contributions of MLS NEXT Elite Academies to the professional player pathway by continuing to invest in the youth development ecosystem. The program provides compensation to MLS NEXT Elite Academies (non-MLS academy programs) for eligible players that progress through the professional player pathway, from MLS NEXT Elite Academy to MLS club academy to an MLS first team as a Homegrown player. The 2023-24 MLS NEXT season features more than 100 MLS NEXT Elite Academies in 30 different states. The Development Grant program will provide additional opportunities for players across the United States and Canada to access the highest level of player development, while recognizing the considerable impact that clubs make in the early stages of an athlete’s development. The program has already compensated a total of more than $100,000 to eight different MLS NEXT Elite Academies for players that are retroactively eligible for the Development Grant. Detailed information on eligibility, funding mechanisms, notable quotes, and retroactive recipients can be found HERE. Major League Soccer today announced the MLS NEXT Development Grant program, an initiative to recognize the significant contributions of @MLSNEXT Elite Academies to the professional player pathway by continuing to invest in the youth development ecosystem.https://t.co/9mUR5RRCCE— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) February 6, 2024 MLS announces that it will now begin paying independent MLS NEXT clubs that had a hand in producing players who sign homegrown deals in MLS..Essentially, a form of solidarity payments being self-imposed by MLS. https://t.co/GPqoC6YxC5— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) February 6, 2024 MLS NEXT is excited to shine a light on Elite academies’ contributions to the professional player pathway through a new initiative - the MLS NEXT Development Grant. Through this program, Elite academies are compensated for eligible players that progress through and reach career… pic.twitter.com/NFNlYitMRf— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) February 6, 2024 Tangible financial rewards to non-MLS youth clubs in MLS Next who develop prospects who go on to become professionals. Already retroactively applied to 10 homegrowns signed since league's launch. Not exactly training comp/solidarity payments, but a big step in that direction https://t.co/O0rvSTAj9m— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) February 6, 2024
Just for semantics sake, it's much more like Training Compensation, not Solidarity payments. The latter are involved when a player is transferred.
Silverware SZN. 🏆Kicking off March 30-April 7, Generation adidas Cup returns to Bradenton, FL, as MLS NEXT academies and international clubs will battle in the most competitive global youth soccer tournament.Watch select matches on #MLSSeasonPass on the @AppleTV app.… pic.twitter.com/KruLF64UGy— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) March 6, 2024 For the first time, GA Cup will have 19 different international clubs with 15 countries represented across the U-15 and U-17 age groups. 🗺️#GenerationadidasCup | @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/UxKGBoB5L6— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) March 6, 2024
Actually watching some of the GA Cup and goodness gracious these fields are bad. The ball has a dead bounce, random hills make it pop up while dribbling, and passes slow down way before their intended targets.
NYRB have left the GA Cup. They said their players have been the victims of multiple instances of racism. The lack of action from tournament officials led to the decision. U15s were supposed to be in the quarterfinal today.
MLS NEXT Cup, Playoffs and Showcase are heading to Murfreesboro, TN this June. The Finals will be held at GEODIS Park, home of Nashville SC. Trophy lift in Tennessee? Music to our ears. 🏆MLS NEXT Cup, Playoffs and Showcase are heading to Murfreesboro, TN this June. The Finals will be held at GEODIS Park, home of Nashville SC. #MLSNEXTCup | #MLSNEXT pic.twitter.com/OtJmhiETRy— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) April 18, 2024
MLS NEXT Update 24_25 is ready to install. 📱MLS NEXT welcomes eight new expansion teams for the 2024-25 season. The program now features game play across 35 different states, three Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. pic.twitter.com/nFlaixolfr— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) April 24, 2024 MLS NEXT Announces Eight Expansion Clubs for the 2024-25 Season The eight expansion clubs who will debut in 2024-25 are: AC River (San Antonio, Texas) – U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19 Carolina Core FC (High Point, N.C.) – U13, U14 Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (Aurora, Colo.) – U13, U14 Connecticut United Football Club (Connecticut) – U14, U16 Downtown United Soccer Club (New York, N.Y.) – U13, U14 Hoosier Premier Academy (Noblesville, Ind.) – U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19 Keystone FC (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) – U13, U14, U15 Southern States Soccer (Hattiesburg, Miss.) – U13, U14, U15
Charlotte put out a nice video from GA Cup Testing ourselves against the best from around the world. An invaluable experience for our academy teams at this year’s GA Cup. pic.twitter.com/U13I7LmxPn— Charlotte FC Academy (@academy_cltfc) April 25, 2024
This guy looks familiar... wasn't he with US Soccer at one point Javier Perez brings new ideas to help Atlanta United and its academy #ATLUTD #MLS https://t.co/M8ZHYQr2XP— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) April 26, 2024
Jack Francka There are a lot of players that I don't notice in the fall portion of the MLS Next season, at the U15 level, that raise their level in the Spring. That's why it is critical circle back around.One player that has really impressed me this spring is Jack Francka (DM/SKC/09). He… pic.twitter.com/BQBLOMCL1O— Marcus Chairez (@chai_asc) April 29, 2024
U15 and U17 academies who’ve booked their ticket to playoffs in Nashville 🎟️🔜 pic.twitter.com/QWmlKMlenp— Footy Access (@footy_access) May 14, 2024
The cheapest tickets to see Mess you're ever going to find: Big news for tonight’s Youth International Cup! 💫 Captain Leo Messi and Luis Suarez will be joining us at Chase Stadium for the Opening Ceremony. Come see your heroes inspire the next generation! 💗🖤Details: https://t.co/Czl5PEdYFA pic.twitter.com/yGELqRFXXl— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 24, 2024 Context: NEWS | Vancouver Whitecaps FC issue an official statement regarding the upcoming match against Inter Miami CF this Saturday, May 25 at BC Place. #VWFC | #VANvMIA— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 23, 2024
The 32 teams who have qualified for playoffs in Nashville for the U-15 age group 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/QmW24E8eWg— Footy Access (@footy_access) June 4, 2024 The brackets are set for the upcoming MLS NEXT Cup in Nashville beginning on June 15 competing for the national championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cqkURQgpTn— Footy Access (@footy_access) June 6, 2024 thread MLS Next Players who’s stock has risen ↗️ this season Kelvin Luis Brito (08): In my opinion I think he deserves a shot with the USYNT 2008 squad at some point before WC qualifiers. Dynamic midfielder probably top 2-3 players on Seattle’s U17s pic.twitter.com/m2OtLenIZZ— Youth Soccer Central (@yscentral) June 5, 2024
AppleTV For the first time in @MLSNEXT history, the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase will be held in Nashville, beginning this Saturday, June 15.22 playoff games, including all four championship matches, will stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV: https://t.co/MDEnsJ0OKX— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 11, 2024