The start of the new season in the club soccer world means there are players on the move and also players looking to impress in the early stages of the campaign. For the U.S. youth contingent abroad, the past month has been full of movement including players signing in England and a U.S. U17 Men’s National Team forward scoring two goals in his first game this season with Barcelona. 

U.S. Keeper joins Everton 

Former Weston FC goalkeeper Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen signed with Everton FC this summer. The 16-year-old was listed as part of the Everton academy on a U.S. U16 Boys National Team camp roster in April. His profile has been added to the Everton website this summer. The netminder is playing with the club’s U18 team during early season events. 

Defreitas-Hansen looks to be one to watch in the future, as he seems highly rated by his new club as well as by the youth national team staff. He was previously one of the top goalkeepers in the Development Academy for Weston FC (Florida). 

Konrad Brace

Konrad de la Fuente scored two goals in FC Barcelona Juvenil B’s 4-0 season opening win against Mollet UE. De la Fuente, No. 11 in the clip below, was part of the U.S. U16 Boys National Team for the Tournament of Montagui in April.

The forward appears to be progressing well at one of the top clubs in the world and his early season success could only help his case to continue to be involved in the future with Barcelona. 

FC Dallas Finalist

FC Dallas U17 squad finished as finalist at the 2017 Liga MX International Tournament last week in Mexico City. Dallas lost 2-1 to Pachuca in the final on Sunday. Dallas was one of a few MLS teams at the event, which consisted mainly of players born in 2001. Rising stars Dante Sealy (2003) and Diego Letayf (2002) played up with Dallas at event. 

FC Dallas will be back in action in a couple of weeks as the Development Academy season kicks off. The MLS franchise’s youth academy is annually a favorite to win the national championship in the top boys club soccer league in the U.S. 

FC Dallas Liga MX Tournament Roster (via fcdallas.com): Juan Pablo Becerra, Kevin Bonilla, Judson Burns, Michael Collodi, Johan Gomez, Luis Hernandez, Julian Hinojosa, Sebastian Kennedy, Kameron Lacey, Diego Letayf, Logan Moore, Adrian Munoz, Luis Pacheco, Michael Pham, Gibran Rayo, BRyan Reynolds, Thomas Roberts, Dante Sealy, Tanner Tessmann, Nathan Toledo 

Saint Nick 

Nicholas Taitague had an assist in Schalke U19’s 1-1 draw against Preußen Münster over the weekend. Taitague played all 90 minutes in the draw, that Schalke dominated with the vast majority of possession. 

Taitague just started his first full season with Schalke after joining the club at the midway point of last season after he turned 18 years old. He looks to be one of the key players for the club’s U19 team, and probably one of the cornerstone pieces for the next U.S. U20 Men’s National Team. 

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