Major League Soccer has seen plenty of young players over the years – some becoming household names. But what happened to the youngest MLS debutants? HITC Sport takes a look at a youngest MLS XI.
Disclaimer
Before we begin, this XI has been selected from players who have made at least ten MLS appearances. This rules out Danny Leyva (the third youngest MLS debutant), Cade Cowell (fifth youngest) and Ricardo Pepi (seventh youngest).
Pepi narrowly misses out, having made nine appearances for FC Dallas since 2019.
Goalkeeper: Bill Hamid
DC United and MLS stalwart Bill Hamid takes the gloves in this XI. Hamid made his league debut in 2007, aged 19 years and five months. The U.S. international has played in more than 200 MLS games and is a firm fans’ favorite.
Full-Backs: Andy Najar & DaMarcus Beasley
Like Hamid, Andy Najar also debuted for DC United. Najar made his MLS bow in March 2010 at the age of 17 years and 12 days. After leaving for a seven year stint with Anderlecht in 2013, Najar has reportedly signed for LAFC ahead of next month’s MLS Is Back Tournament.
A real U.S. Soccer legend and most-likely captain of this XI. DaMarcus Beasley was 17 years and 9 months old when he began what would be a stellar career with the Chicago Fire in the year 2000. After playing in Europe for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Glasgow Rangers and Manchester City, Beasley rejoined MLS with the Houston Dynamo in 2014. In total, Beasley played more than 400 career matches at club level and 126 times for the United States before retiring at the end of 2019.
Center-Backs: Doneil Henry & Erik Palmer-Brown
Canadian international Doneil Henry recently signed for K League side Suwon Samsung Bluewings – but spent most of his career in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC. Henry was 17 years and six months old when he debuted for Toronto in 2010.
Erik Palmer-Brown played 20 games for Sporting Kansas City between 2013 and 2017, his first being at 17 years and 24 days of age. Palmer-Brown then signed for English giants Manchester City before embarking on multiple loan spells in Europe.
Central Midfield: Gianluca Busio & Zach Pfeffer
Another Sporting Kansas City starlet, Gianluca Busio signed professionally in 2017 as a 15-year-old, becoming the second youngest to do so since the 14-year-old Freddy Adu. Busio made his MLS debut in April 2018, aged 16 years and two months, and has played over 1,000 minutes of league soccer to date.
At the age of 15, Zach Pfeffer joined the Philadelphia Union in 2010 as their first homegrown player. The highly-rated rookie made his debut aged 16 years and eight months. Pfeffer made a handful of appearances between 2011 and 2014, before a career-best 21 MLS games in 2015. Unfortunately, Pfeffer struggled to meet expectations and retired in 2016, aged 21. The former midfielder now works as an Investment Banking Analyst for Goldman Sachs.
Wingers: Freddy Adu & Alphonso Davies
Is there anything left to be said about Freddy Adu? Once dubbed the next Pele, Adu had enormous talent and even greater potential. A 14-year-old Adu became the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract after DC United selected him in the 2004 MLS Super Draft. Adu made his debut when just 14 years and 10 months. The talent was evident, and Adu will point to the fact that he played for Benfica, Monaco and the USMNT. However, Adu’s career will ultimately be viewed through the lens of sadness and unfulfilled potential.
Alphonso Davies has become one of the most highly-rated players in Europe since his move to German powerhouse Bayern Munich in 2019. The pacey Canadian debuted for Vancouver Whitecaps aged 15 years and eight months. Initially seen as an attacking winger in MLS, Davies has been hugely successful for Bayern this season at left back.
Forwards: Jesus Ferreira & Diego Fagundez
FC Dallas front man Jesus Ferreira began his MLS career in 2017 at the age of 16 years and five months. Ferreira was born in Colombia, but is now an American international due to his status as a U.S. citizen; making his USMNT debut earlier this year. Ferreira’s father, David Ferreira, also played for FC Dallas.
Diego Fagundez was 16 years and five months old when he first played in MLS for the New England Revolution. Almost 250 league games later, the now 25-year-old has become a crucial part of the past decade for the Revs.
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