Meet The Striker Who Is Tearing Up MLS Next

Player Deep Dive: Chase Adams 

Chase Adams has probably one of the most interesting stories in youth soccer. To start, Adams is currently a striker/winger for Columbus Crew U17s and their second team. This past summer, Adams won the U15 CONCACAF Championships, and it looked like he was their first choice striker throughout the tournament. Adams also made his professional debut this past weekend when he went the full 90’ for Columbs Crew 2. 

Less than a year before his CONCACAF Championship run Adams was the leading goalscorer for his highschool soccer team. As just a freshman, Adams took Ohio highschools by storm as he led his team to a state title and won player of the year. This made the Crew Academy raise a few eyebrows, and Adams was invited to their U15 squad for the reminder of the season. Adamas quickly earned himself a starting job with the side. Adams became a mainstate player while playing alongside some of the top talent in the country. Adams dominated in the round of 32 match we saw at MLS Next Cup. He was calm, composed, and proved to be a goal scoring threat constantly. The Crew went on to win that match in penalties. 

Performances like this one earned him his first callup to the USYNT. Adams joined the squad in the Dominican Republic for the U15 CONCACAF Championships. Adams was among the leading goalscorers in the tournament that saw the USYNT dominate. The United States won all 6 of their games, topping it off with a 4-1 win Vs. Mexico. Chase Adams opened the scoring for the United States in this one. Adams was a candidate for player of the year with, but his teammate Cavna Sullivan was awarded the individual accolade.

Adams continued his fine form into preseason with Columbus Crew’s U17 team. He scored a brace against FC Dallas in an unfortunate 5-2 defeat. Adams bagged again in his team’s next match against Vardar, and he looked to be one of the top players at the U17 level heading into MLS Next Fest. We saw Adams play against Atlanta United, where he looked to be an incredibly dominant player despite playing a year up. Adams was tearing up Atlanta, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Adams has been highly praised by multiple U.S scouts we are in communication with, and he will be one of our players to watch at the 2024 Generation adidas Cup. If the Crew are able to make a run, we see no reason why Adams wouldn’t be among the top scorers.

2009 Player Makes U.S Open Cup Debut

2009-born Adri Mehmeti suited up for the second time with NYRB II last night. Mehmeti was first with the second team this past weekend against he Columbus Crew II. Mehmeti did not step onto the field, but last night he did. This makes him the second player born in 2009 to play for the second team after Myles Gardner made his debut with the Houston Dynamo last weekend.

When MLS Academy Players Transferring To European Sides

Gio Reyna 

Gio Reyna broke the U.S soccer side of the internet when he decided to join Borussia Dortmund from NYCFC at just 16. Gio won the national championship with NYCFC U17s prior to heading to Germany. He was rumored to be wanted by many clubs including NYCFC themselves, but he chose Dortmund. 

Joe Scally 

Joe Scally is a player who, like Gio Reyna, came through the ranks at NYCFC. Scally is a fullback/centerback who signed a homegrown with NYCFC in 2018 before he moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Since then, he has catapulted himself into the lineup to be one of the top defenders at the club.

Weston Mckennie 

Weston Mckennie looked to be heading to play college soccer at the University of Virgina prior to making the jump to Schalke. Weston moved to Schalke after receiving an offer to play in their academy. Shortly after joining, he debuted for the first team, and tore it up. This earned him a move to Juventus where he has been balling out ever since.

Marcos Zambrano 

Marcos Zambrano made the move from Philadelphia Union to Benfica following a successful run in the U17 MLS Next Cup. Zambrano was the leading goal scorer and won the entire tournament with Philadelphia. Zambrano recently moved from Benfica to a lower division side in order to pick up more minutes. 

Diego Rossi 

Diego Rossi is yet another NYCFC academy star who made the jump to Europe. He signed for Parma in Italy, and he has recently been called up to the USYNT Under-19 squad.

Aaron Heard 

Aaron Heard signed a pre-agreement with Bayer Leverkusen. He is going to move to the German giants in late Decemebr’s of this year once he turns 18. Heard is a central attacking midfielder for St. Louis City’s second team.

Diego Kochen 

Kochen is a pretty big name in youth football for all the right reasons. The 2006 goalkeeper turned 18 just two days ago, and he moved to Barcelona from Weston FC a long time ago now. Kochen has recently been called up to the USYNT U19 squad as well.