Confirming a post on the Detective Work thread, this seems to show that he's an American-born '03 who has played this year (and, in fact, recently) with first-division Nõmme Kalju FC, based in Talinn. https://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/player/26590/team/3753 T'Markt says he's had some involvement with Estonian YNTs. https://www.transfermarkt.de/kirill-aleksandr-antonov/profil/spieler/488284 The original DW thread post (which doesn't add much): https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/t...ive-work-thread.1987805/page-24#post-35677742
Back stateside with Orange County in USLC ✍️ Orange County SC is proud to announce the signing of 18-year-old Kirill Antonov from @KaljuFC.Welcome Kirill! #ForCounty pic.twitter.com/x2GoWDDec8— Orange County SC (@orangecountysc) May 12, 2021
Is it safe to say the USL Championship is a better level than the Estonian 1st tier? or is this maybe our only opportunity to find out? Either way it's a good move for him to get more eyes on him rather than become another player lost in the shuffle. Be that for Estonia or the US
Tough to say if USLC if better than Estonian 1st Division. I suspect it could be However, think this move is more of what OCSC can provide to Kirill. Oliver Wyss, their Sporting Director, has his eye on OCSC developing and selling young players abroad. He’s been instrumental in OCSC setting up a partnership with Rangers. OSCS send two players over and one, Aaron Cervantes, a GK and US youth international, completed a transfer. They also boast 17 yr old Kobi Henry (US U-17 player), Francis Jacobs (16) and Raymond Drai, (17) who have been invitees to US youth camps. OSCS also snagged 20 yr old Haitian Ronaldo Demus, formerly of the FCD Dallas Academy, who scored 20+ goals for their USL League One side North Texas SC. The club has emphasis on developing youth and Kirill could be part of those plans.
He recently moved back to Estonia with Nomme. https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/usa-st-naasnud-18-aastane-vasakkaitsja-liitus-nomme-unitediga The guy he's shaking hands with in that photo is an Estonian goalie who had a pretty good career.