Pierre skyrockets up this list over the last six months. I consider him the best pure defender in the United States youth pool. He has an elite physical profile and is a supreme defender both on and off of the ball. He can dominate games from the center-back position. His game has translated from academy ball to MLS Next Pro seamlessly and he looks like he is close to being an MLS ready defender. While he will never be Brandan Craig on the ball, he has consistently gotten better each season, showing he is working hard on becoming a more complete passer. He is still very dependent on his right foot, but he can break lines with his passes and he finds teammates quickly. 

Pierre is one of two 2007 born players who have been capped by the United States U19 team and he should be in the mix to make the U20 Concacaf Championship team being a cycle young. It’s even more impressive when you realize that he has an October 2007 birthdate. Pierre is on track to be a USMNT level defender and if he can continue to grow as a distributor, the sky's the limit. 

The 2007 class is led by defense. I called Pierre the best pure defender in the U.S. youth pool, but McFarlane isn’t far behind. He actually reminds me of fellow British-American, Jedi Robinson. He is an elite one on one defender and he is also very sound and smart off of the ball. 

McFarlane recently earned his MLS debut for NYCFC and could be in store for more after impressing off of the bench. McFarlane also recently featured for England’s U17 as they made a run to the semi-finals at the European U17 Championships. McFarlane is now cap-tied to England, but could file for a one time switch to the United States down the line. He is a unique story in that he was developed completely in the United States, but currently features for European power in England. 

Gozo is in the midst of a really nice rebound season after an injury riddled 2023. RSL has him playing both as a striker and a winger and I really like the movement he has added to his game and I think in large part of that is coming from his reps as a striker. He looks more aware and composed on the ball and he is looking very determined in the press. He is starting to round out into a really good all around attacking prospect. He has always been good in one on one situations and he has always been a good athlete, but now he is really starting to become an all around soccer player and it is exciting to see. It is no surprise that Gozo is one of only two 2007 born players who has been with the U.S. U19 team thus far.

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Miller has just returned from a foot injury and recently made the squad for New England’s first team. Miller was a big riser last season after putting together a very impressive season in MLS Next Pro as one of the youngest consistently starting players in the league. Miller was also the second youngest player to make the United States U17 World Cup squad where he featured as both a left-back and a left-winger. Miller will look to build on an impressive 2023 season now that he has returned from a long injury. 

Allen has had a true breakout season this year at the U17 level in MLS Next. He has led San Jose to a very good season and has been one of the top goal scorers all season long. He can score with both feet, his head and he can also drop into the midfield supporting the build up with great success. At about 6-4 with room to add strength, he is exactly what you look for in a target striker. San Jose have over prioritized academy winning this year and as a result Allen has not gotten the opportunity with the second m tealike he should. If he gets the opportunity to play in MLS Next Pro and he shows that he can produce, he could move himself into the tier 1 discussion. Allen has not been the top choice for U.S. Soccer. My guess is that he needs to improve against the ball to fit the style of play that they link to implement. 

Baiera is a player that I like more and more every time that I watch him because I consistently find something new in his game. He isn’t an overly flashy player, but he does so many things very well and is so well rounded. One thing that really stood out to me when watching him live is how fast he is. He has looked very solid in MLS Next Pro this year, I don’t think he is too far away from being MLS ready, but there are a lot of right-backs in his way at NYCFC. Does he have a pathway there in the next couple of years? I can’t see him staying in MLS Next Pro for another couple of years. 

Meiser is another elite defender with a very good physical profile. Meiser split time between Borussia Dortmund’s U17s and U19s this year and has spent a lot of time as Germany’s U17 captain. My main concern with Meiser is his willingness and ability to be dynamic on the ball when building out of the back. He is very safe and rarely breaks lines with his passes. Meiser will be a key player for Borussia Dortmund’s U19 team next year. 

The only reason Turner was not on this list in the last edition is because he had been injured for a while and though he has still been battling fitness issues, I have been so impressed with his minutes for Loudoun United that I had to get him back on the list. He is still a very dynamic player with great quickness, ball control, passing and overall feel for the game. I am not exactly sure what position he ends up at long term, but I do know the kid knows how to play ball. 

Fisher has a very unique and special profile and he is on a very bespoke path. His coach shared his highlight tape with me a couple of years ago when he was playing at DKSC in Dallas, an ECNL club. His technical display on that tape blew me away, but the competition level was low, so I stayed cautiously optimistic. It was difficult to get full game tape of him. He was invited to a U.S. U16 camp around that time as well and it was nice to see U.S. Soccer identify talent from smaller academies. He is now playing at a smaller club in Zagreb, Croatia. I was able to watch him play Dinamo Zagreb, one of the better developmental academies in the world and he easily looked like one of the best players on the field. 

He has elite control of the ball and dynamic passing range and he excels as a single pivot. He is a smooth and functional athlete that has great feel for pressure and playmaking from deep lying positions. I believe there is a long term club plan in place for Fisher and I would not be surprised if he moves to a bigger club in the next year or two. He is one to keep an eye on. He might pop up in a couple of years in a big spot, playing great soccer and could soon be considered one of the better prospects in the U.S. pool. 

After a very impressive end to the season last year for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship, Worth had a difficult start to his second USL campaign after a change in management at the club. Thankfully, Worth and his agent were able to facilitate a move to Tampa Bay and Worth has been getting consistent minutes off of the bench. He seems to have picked up where he left off, showing the ability to be an available outlet and tempo center in central midfield. Worth turns 18 in February of 2025 and I expect that he will be headed to Europe shortly thereafter. 

Culbreath is a speed and technical winger that had a very successful first season within Bayer Leverkusen’s academy, scoring 10 goals and 2 assists in league play for the U17 team. Culbreath has spent some time with USYNT, but is now cap-tied to Germany after competing in the U17 European Championships. Culbreath will move up to the U19 level and look to continue to build an impressive academy resume for Bayer Leverkusen. 

Ellis has shown that his technical ability translates well from the academy level to MLS Next Pro. He continues to shine in link up and hold up play and he is a monster at retaining possession for his side. The knock on Ellis has been that he has never been a prolific goal scorer, he is more of a playmaking nine than a goal scoring nine, which makes for an interesting projection.  

Shore continues to produce in MLS Next Pro and while he isn’t the flashiest prospect, he is incredibly productive and well rounded. His long term position is still a bit of a question mark. He plays mostly as a free eight for NYCFC and he has played mostly as a winger for USYNTs. He is effective in the final third, but doesn’t have the profile to be a pure winger, so an attacking midfielder is really his ideal position. Playing as an eight long term isn’t out of the question because he is willing to do the defensive work.

On the surface, Glover looks to have taken a step back in his second season in MLS Next Pro, but his performances have been solid. He is getting into good spots, but not getting a ton of service. He is a classic striker profile that can hold up and connect play and is efficient with his shot taking in the final third. 

Torres played a lot more academy ball and has played a lot less MLS Next Pro ball than I expected this year, which does raise a few questions. He has been a player I’ve really enjoyed scouting since his U15 season and I still believe in the profile. He is an athletic box to box midfielder that is very ball secure and able to progress the ball in a number of different ways.  

Chirila’s ascension story is a unique one. Last season he was a rotational midfielder for Philadelphia Union. FC Cincinnati saw something in him and brought him over to be a striker. Dozens of goals and a player of the year type season later at the U17 level, he is a homegrown player that burst onto the scene. This is what good scouting looks like and what you can gain from it. 

Chirila has been able to carry his production and effectiveness from the U17 level to MLS Next Pro, which is a good sign given he doesn’t have the most dynamic physical profile. His technical ability, tactical understanding and rocket of a right foot have all shown up at a slightly higher level. He will have to continue to prove that he can overcome a less than ideal physical profile as he continues to play at higher levels.

Ukaegbu isn’t the biggest name on this list, but I think he is going to be someone who is more well known in the next couple of years. He has a very complete center-back profile. He has decent size, good mobility and he is excellent on the ball. He is one of the most comfortable center-backs in the U.S. pool at standing on the ball and maneuvering out of pressure to find a pass. He is also a clever and confident passer that can switch fields and break lines with his passes. Defensively he is disruptive and active. Ukaegbu is probably a player that we see getting sold to MLS for a sizable fee in the next couple of years. 

McIntosh is another really cool story. Up until this year, he was playing academy soccer in Oakland for Oakland Roots’ 510 Project, an academy program established by the USL-Championship club. New England did a great job scouting and brought him into their academy this past season where he impressed. He has been brought into the MLS Next Pro team and continues to show a great all around game and exciting potential. He recently signed a homegrown deal with New England and looks like a player that could be MLS ready in the next year or two.

Platts is one of the most explosive and dynamic athletes in the United States youth pool. He isn’t the biggest center-back, but he will rarely lose an aerial duel because of his out of this world leaping ability. He needs to add bulk to his frame because he plays a very aggressive style and that has led to some injury issues. I was hoping to see Platts play in MLS Next Pro this year to see how he holds up against bigger and stronger players, but he doesn’t appear to be a high priority for Orlando right now. 

Chong-Qui was not a well known prospect ahead of the 2023-2024 season, but he’s caught many people’s attention at the U17 level this year. His physical profile is quite special for a left-back. He is big, strong and an explosive player that can overload well in the final third. He has the tools to be a lock-down defender, but lacks extincts and discipline at times. He is the type of player that might put it all together a little later than others, but if he does, he could end up being a big time player. He is also a December birthday, so he is still quite young. 

List of United States eligible players from the 2007 class that I have not had the chance to scout over the last year: CF, Roman Geiler (PSG), CF, Dino Klapija (RB Leipzig), WING, Zane Okoro (Lincoln City), AM, Marvin Dills (Frankfurt), AM, Xanti Oyharzabal (Real Sociedad), CM, Darius Lane (Brighton), CM, Kyrome Lumsden (North Carolina FC), LB, Issac Brown-Samper (Sassuolo), LB, Matteo Carbonara (Inter Milan), GK, Giorgio De Marzi (Roma), GK, Bruno Klimek (Mallorca)

If you have full match video of any of these players and would like to share that with me so that I can scout them, please reach out.