More and more, tracking the U.S. national team stars and potential stars means starting in Germany’s leagues.
The Washington Post has an interesting story this morning about 16-year-old Junior Flores, an attacking central midfielder from Northern Virginia who has just signed a four-year deal with current German champion Borussia Dortmund.
Flores will remain at the U.S. under-17 residency program at Bradenton, Fla., until he reports to Dortmund following his 18th birthday, when the contract goes into effect.
As for prominent U.S. internationals to follow in Germany, we now have Steve Cherundolo at Hannover, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Jermaine Jones at Schalke, Alfredo Morales at Hertha Berlin, Jared Jeffrey at Mainz, Joe Gyau at St. Pauli and at least a half-dozen others of varying age and potential.
Oh ... there’s also Timmy Chandler at FC Nürnberg. He’s still thinking about giving the Yanks a shot.