Breakout Youth Player in MLS / USL 2026

More details. Its a loan until the end of the MLSNP season with an option to buy..................

North Texas SC Signs Mexico Youth International Forward Da'vian Kimbrough on Loan from Sacramento Republic FC | North Texas SC

 

Former Colorado Rapids academy player....................................(and previously Michigan Jags)
U16 MLS Cup Golden Boot winner as top scorer … U16 MLS Cup Best XI … U15 National League Best XI … U15 United States Youth Soccer National Champion … Three-time state cup champion

This has been a prolific young player for years.

For the US was in a U20 camp in March.

 

For those that want to think about the "next generation," the U20 CONCACAF Championships start at the end of the month.
Our roster for the event was just released. ["Stars" usually aren't released for the event. Kids who get regular MLS minutes are with their clubs. Nor kids like Mathis Albert in preseason overseas.]

Some really interesting inclusions on this roster.


2026 CONCACAF U-20 MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)
Goalkeepers (3): William Lodmell (Sporting Lisbon/POR; Lisbon, Portugal), Lucas McPartlin (St. Louis City SC; St. Louis, Mo.), Kayne Rizvanovich (Minnesota United FC; Mettawa, III.)

Defenders (7): Chris Applewhite (Nashville SC; Waldorf, Md.), Tristan Brown (Columbus Crew; Novi, Mich.) Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, III.), Brandon Dayes (Louisville City FC; Louisville, KY.), Braden Dunham (Furman University; Peachtree City, Ga.), Javaun Mussenden (New England Revolution; Dallas, Ga.), Joshua Torquato (FC Dallas; Aubrey, Texas)

Midfielders (5): Colin Guske (Orlando City SC; Saint Johns, Fla.), Santiago Morales (Inter Miami CF; Weston, Fla.), Cooper Sanchez (Atlanta United FC; Holly Springs, Ga.), Alex Shaw (Inter Miami CF; Pembroke Pines, FL.), Dylan Vanney (LA Galaxy; Redondo Beach, Calif.)

Forwards (6): Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC; High Point, N.C.), Jaidyn Contreras (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Din Klapija (RB Leipzig; New York City, N.Y.), Xanti Oyharçabal (Athletic Bilbao/ESP; Hendaye, France), Ruben Ramos Jr. (LA Galaxy; La Puente, Calif.), Colton Swan (Charleston Battery; Ann Arbor, Mich.)

 

.................................and yes! We have our own Basque player! Xanti Oyharçabal from Athletic Bilbao! BasqueAmerican father and Colombian mother.

And yes, Dylan Vanney is the son of Greg Vanney. Santiago Morales is the son of RLS-great Javier Morales.

Its a "B" roster, but that's just the way it goes.

Eligible players not present:

Zavier Gozo, RSL
Peyton Miller, New England
Jude Terry, LAFC
Mathis Albert, Dortmund
Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia,
Adri Mehmeti, NYRB
Julian Hall, NYRB
Ian James, SKC
Ramiz Hamouda, Werder Bremen
Aidan Stokes, NYRB
Neil Pierre, Philadelphia
Justin Ellis, Orlando
Snyder Brunell, Seattle
Harbor Miller, Galaxy
Aiden Hezarkhani, RSL
Marvin Dills, Frankfurt

We could probably formulate a damn good starting XI from players not at the event.
Why are so many not available? Timing. The tournament coincides with the start of the 2nd half of the MLS season, as well as the start of Euro preseason.

Also this tournament serves as Olympic qualifying (as well as the U20WC of course). As we're already qualified as hosts of the Olympics, you wonder if our desire to fight for top players was really there.

This group should still get thru a group of Cuba, El Salvador, and Haiti Then whether they win the critical quarterfinal matchup comes down to the draw. Unlucky draw, and the roster may be in a bit of difficulty. Its a good roster, but not a great one.

 

He's right and he's wrong.
The business plan for MLS front offices and managers is TO WIN and be profitable businesses. The primary goal is not to be USMNT development centers.

If they have access to an 18 year old Uruguayan or Colombian that's better than the youngster coming out of their academy, then what are they going to do?

If an 18 year old center forward on Dallas wants to start than he has to be better than a guy that started a game for friggin' Croatia at the World Cup. And if there isn't an opportunity, then he has to move on. Its the same as Spain, France, or Argentina.

And yes, all we've talked about this year is the number of really talented kids breaking thru and getting opportunities in MLS. The number of talented kids keeps increasing, and they ARE getting opportunities. If you're good enough, then you play. Its a pretty easy transfermarkt search to see how many USYNT-eligible guys have played minutes in the league this year.

The 50th youngest player used in the league this year has been Eric Klein of the Revs. He was 19 years old 4 months when he first got into the game. Are there some foreign players amongst those 50? Yes. But they're mostly US-eligible.

The 15 youngest players used in the league represented 11 different clubs. Scroll thru the top 50 and you see just about every club on there. Yes, even Portland! 18 year old Eric Izoita.

 

Yup. We spend a U20 cycle expanding the pool for a reason.

We've known for a while that these U20 "stars" weren't going to be on the roster. After all, they weren't at the most recent preparation camps.

Its entirely possible that a player like Gozo or Hall never represent a USYNT again. They'll start getting USMNT opportunities soon, and they may stay there. [Maybe the home Olympics in 2028. Depends on what we're doing with Copa America and how these young guys advance over the next two years.]

The USYNTs aren't an end. They're a means to an end. That end is important first team club games and the USMNT.

What's better for Gozo's development? Playing first team MLS games or Haitian and Cuban teenagers at the CONCACAF U20 Championships? The answer is obvious.