D.C. United Academy
Full nameD.C. United Academy
Founded2005
StadiumSegra Field
LeagueMLS Next
UPSL
WebsiteClub website

The D.C. United Academy is the youth and development program for the Major League Soccer club D.C. United. The program consists of teams at four age levels:[1] the under-23 and under-20 teams, as well as the Academy (U-17, U-16, and U-15).

The D.C. United Academy has been one of the most successful MLS academies.[2] Many players have been signed directly from the Academy to the professional team, or have later played professionally. Notable players to have graduated from the D.C United Academy include Bill Hamid, who has been called up by the U.S. national team and who was the MLS 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year, and Andy Najar, who has been capped for Honduras and who was the MLS 2010 Rookie of the Year.[3][4][5]

History

The D.C. United Academy was created in 2005 in an effort to provide local talent an opportunity to have professional training. D.C. United was one of the first MLS clubs to develop its own academy.[5] The D.C. United Academy gained some press in 2013 when D.C. United Academy graduate Michael Seaton made his league debut with D.C. United; Seaton was the first player to play an MLS game who was born after MLS began play in 1996.[6] D.C. United decided in 2015, however, to reduce its outlays on its academy in part to help defray the expenses associated with the team's new soccer-specific stadium.[7]

Structure

D.C. United Academy Structure
Level Type League
Senior team Professional Major League Soccer
Reserve team Professional USL Championship
U-19 Academy UPSL
U-17 MLS Next
U-15
U-14

Like most Major League Soccer teams, United's academy features youth pre-academy teams that ascend to the ranks of the senior team on the professional level. Starting in 2016, United will field their reserve team in the second-division USL Championship. Beneath their reserve and senior squads is the under-23 side, whom play exhibition matches.

The U-16 team playing Triangle F.C. in the 2006 Super Y League semifinals.

The teenage brackets represent the main academy as well as the pre-academy structure. Players from the under-15 to the under-18 age level play in MLS Next, playing against other academy teams around the nation. Formerly, the academy played in the USSDA.

Consisting of players aged from under-12 to under-14, the Pre-Academy is a stepping stone for younger players to adapt to an academy setting. This age group of players participates in Northeast Pre-Academy League.[8]

For players at the U-10 level and below, United offers specialty training camps.

D.C. United Academy is fully funded and does not charge any fees for its players.[9]

Notable alumni

Andy Najar, who transferred from D.C. United to Belgium's Anderlecht for a reported $2 million, was the first player from the D.C. United Academy — and first from any MLS academy — to move to Europe on a permanent contract.[10] The youngest D.C. United Academy signing is Chris Durkin, who signed for D.C. United in 2016 at 16 years old.[11] Furthermore, several D.C. United Academy players have played with U.S. national youth teams.[12]

MLS players

The following list includes players who, after leaving the D.C. United Academy, have played at least one match in Major League Soccer.

D.C. Academy prospects who played in MLS
Name Turned Pro DCU apps Left DCU Departure National team (caps)
Bill Hamid 2009 240  United States (7)
Andy Najar 2010 100 2013 $3 million transfer to Anderlecht (Belgium).[13]  Honduras (36)
Conor Shanosky 2010 5 2014 Released. Signed with Louisville City FC. United States United States U20
Ethan White 2010 38 2013 Traded to Philadelphia for Jeff Parke. United States United States U20
Michael Seaton 2013 5 2015 Traded to Portland.  Jamaica (14)
Collin Martin 2013 15 2016 Traded to Minnesota for 4th round draft pick. United States United States U20
Jalen Robinson 2014 26 2019 Contract ended. United States United States U18
Romain Gall 2014 0 2010 Moved to Real Salt Lake academy. United States United States U20
Tyler Rudy 2015 0 2011 Played college soccer for Georgetown.
Chris Durkin 2016 36 2020 $1.1 million transfer to Sint-Truiden (Belgium). United States United States U20
Ian Harkes 2017 33 2018 Released. Signed with Dundee (Scotland). United States United States U20
Eryk Williamson 2017 0 2018 Traded to Portland Timbers. United States United States U23
Antonio Bustamante 2019 2 2019 Released. Signed with Blooming (Bolivia).  Bolivia (2)
Donovan Pines 2019 64  United States (2)
Griffin Yow 2019 36 2022 $100,000 Transfer to K.V.C. Westerlo (Belgium) United States United States U18
Moses Nyeman 2019 32 2022 $350,000 transfer to S.K. Beveren (Belgium) United States United States U16
Kevin Paredes 2020 41 2022 $7.35 million transfer to VfL Wolfsburg (Germany) United States United States U20
Jacob Greene 2021 16 United States United States U20
Jeremy Garay 2021 1 El Salvador El Salvador (1)
Ted Ku-DiPietro 2022 39 United States United States U17
Jackson Hopkins 2022 34 United States United States U20
Matai Akinmboni 2022 7 United States United States U17

Notes:

  • D.C. United appearances updated as of November 29, 2020.
  • Where a player has played with multiple levels of a national team (e.g., men's team, under-20 team, under-18 team), only the highest level is listed.

Source: D.C. United

The Academy

U16/U17 Team

As of February 19, 2022 [14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK United States USA Jason Guevara
GK United States USA Luke Peacock
GK United States USA Ethan Talapatra
DF El Salvador SLV Alexander Aguilar
DF United States USA Gleb Bogdanov
DF United States USA Gustavo Borges
DF United States USA Alexis Gonzales
DF United States USA Greg Jones
DF United States USA Dash Papez
DF El Salvador SLV Diego Vasquez
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF El Salvador SLV Jonathan Aguirre
MF El Salvador SLV Christopher Argueta
MF United States USA David Ayala
MF United States USA Isaiah Chisolm
MF United States USA Diego Diaz
MF Nicaragua NCA Luciano Lanzas
MF United States USA Nelson Hernandez
MF Honduras HON Alessandro Maldonado
MF United States USA Justin Melly
MF United States USA Ethan Pendleton
MF United States USA Gavin Turner
MF United States USA Gary Zhang
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW United States USA Ignacio Alem
FW United States USA Sydney Aggrey
FW United States USA James Ashby
FW Honduras HON Noel Calix Ortiz
FW Peru PER Gabriel Cossio
FW United States USA Wilson Holman
FW United States USA Gage Lyons
FW Tunisia TUN Teymour Mohammed
FW United States USA Hugo Portillo

U15 Team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK United States USA Jason Guevara
GK United States USA Owen Pschigoda
GK United States USA Cameron Marbray
DF United States USA Michael Bosley
DF United States USA Myles Mercer
DF United States USA Kemari Kerr
MF United States USA Ayaan Ali
MF United States USA Emidio Castro-Valdez
MF United States USA John Chisholm
MF United States USA Ejani Christian
MF United States USA Neil Das
MF United States USA Kevin Diaz-Blanco
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF United States USA Braxton Hayes
MF United States USA Brice Hall
MF United States USA Jimmy Juarez
MF United States USA Jerry Lopez Felix
MF United States USA Ada Karatepe
MF Peru PER Jason Molina
MF United States USA Damilola Olupona
MF El Salvador SLV Diego Torres
MF United States USA Makai Wells
MF United States USA Aiden Zarate
FW El Salvador SLV Raul Avalos
FW United States USA Langston Fabiyi
FW United States USA Haadi Khalid
No. Pos. Nation Player
El Salvador SLV German Argueta
United States USA Jerry Boasmanboon
United States USA Julian Dix
United States USA Alan Flores
Guatemala GUA Gabriel Fuentes
United States USA Brown Huffard
Poland POL Jakub Porada

U14 Team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
United States USA Anthony Applewhaite
United States USA Mayson Barillas
United States USA Braydon Bloom
United States USA Jeffrey Bonilla
United States USA Austin Brown
Dominican Republic DOM Kamil Castillo
United States USA Pascal Crosley
United States USA Juani Cuneo
United States USA MJ Day
United States USA Nate Free
No. Pos. Nation Player
United States USA Chase Gould
United States USA Luca Nicolacci
United States USA Marco Nicolacci
United States USA Edwin Ortiz
United States USA Dominick Pell
United States USA Mateo Pinto
United States USA Valentino Quaranta
Puerto Rico PUR Edwin "SJ" Rios Jr.
United States USA Austin Roberts
United States USA Siji Sowemimo
United States USA Brayden Stevens

Coaching staff

As of August 7, 2023[15]
Position Staff
U-19 Head Coach The Gambia Mattar M'Boge
U-17 Head Coach United States Phil Gordon
U-15 Head Coach Bolivia Marco Etcheverry
U-14 Head Coach Cameroon Phil Nana

Reserves

From 2005 until 2012, D.C. United fielded a reserve team that played in the MLS Reserve Division. The reserve team disbanded when Major League Soccer and USL Pro announced a player development partnership, and United announced Richmond Kickers as their USL Pro affiliate.[16]

Honors

Seasons

Season MLS Reserve League Top goalscorer(s)
GP W T L GF GA Pts Pos Name Goals
2005 12 8 0 4 26 21 24 1st Jamil Walker 9
2006 12 6 1 5 22 11 19 5th
2007 12 4 5 3 16 12 17 5th
2008 12 5 1 4 19 21 16 5th
2011 9 6 3 0 21 9 21 Eastern Division
2nd
Joseph Ngwenya 4

See also

References

General
  • Academy alumni sourced to: "Alumni & First Team Signings". D.C. United. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  • Academy rosters sourced to: "Academy Teams". D.C. United. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
Footnotes
  1. "The kids are coming", ESPN, Leander Schaerlaeckens, June 1, 2010.
  2. "DC United Announces Residential Academy", Vavel, Liam McMahon, February 20, 2015.
  3. "D.C. United to launch youth academy residency program in Maryland", Washington Post, Steven Goff, February 19, 2015.
  4. "Orlando City eager to build strong pipeline from developmental academy to MLS level" Archived 2019-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Orlando Sentinel, Paul Tenorio, July 4, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "D.C. United’s Homegrown talent leads the way in MLS awards", SoccerWire.com, Chris Teale, December 9, 2014.
  6. "D.C. United Loans Michael Seaton to Örebro SK", Last Word on Sports, Alec Rivera, April 1, 2015.
  7. "D.C. United’s bizarre approach to development continues apace", Top Drawer Soccer, Will Parchman, August 5, 2015.
  8. "U–11 & U–13 Training Program: About the Program". D.C. United. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  9. "DC United academy, now fully funded, aspires to join MLS's best | Charles Boehm | MLSSoccer.com".
  10. "D.C. United selling Andy Najar to Anderlecht", Washington Post, Steven Goff, January 30, 2013.
  11. "Glen Allen native Chris Durkin signs with D.C. United", Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 14, 2016.
  12. "D.C. United to play in U-13 Concacaf Champions League Tournament", Soccer America, Mike Woitalla, August 3, 2015.
  13. "Former D.C. United star Andy Najar extends Anderlecht contract through 2018", Sports Illustrated, Avi Creditor, April 29, 2014.
  14. "USA - DC United U17 - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  15. "D.C. United Academy". Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  16. "D.C. United, Richmond Kickers announce landmark affiliation". D.C. United. DCUnited.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
Pre-Academy
Alumni
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