
2009 Top 20

July 2025
The 2009 class remains the most talented in the U.S. youth pool, combining elite, blue-chip prospects with strong depth across nearly every position. It features the top two overall USMNT prospects in Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert, along with a deep group of high-upside players that could push the class even higher.
This is the deepest winger class I’ve studied in years—an encouraging development given the senior team’s needs. It’s also a very strong goalkeeper group and features quality full-backs on both sides. Defensive midfield is the only position lacking in depth, but overall positional coverage is excellent. A few players lost five-star status and no new ones have emerged yet, but several are trending upward and could get there.
The European-based contingent could further elevate the group. Gustavo Borges (Frankfurt), Ethan Degny (Nice), and Kairo Smith-Phillips (Crystal Palace) have all impressed in flashes, and German-American keeper Philipp Eckle also looks promising. With more evaluation, several of these players could break into the top 20 and add to the class’s already impressive profile.
This class continues to set the standard for the post-COVID era—and it still has room to grow.
2009 Class at a Glance
4.55
Top 20 Average Rating
WING, GK, RB
Positional Strengths
DM
Positional Weaknesses
AM, Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union (No change)
Rating: 5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇩🇪
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-17
Sullivan stands out for his rare blend of athleticism, technical skill, creativity, and elite mentality, making him capable of excelling as a playmaking ten, a box-to-box midfielder, or a dynamic winger. While his risk-taking can lead to turnovers, it's a trade-off for the moments of brilliance he consistently delivers.
2. WING, Mathis Albert, Borussia Dortmund (No change)
Rating: 5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇫🇷
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-17
Albert has all the tools of a modern winger—physicality, technical skill, creativity, chance creation, off-ball movement, and defensive work rate. While he's already effective in one-on-one situations, continued development in the variety of ways he beats defenders could elevate his game even further.
3. CM, KK Spivey, San Jose Earthquakes (No change)
Rating: 5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Spivey has as much raw talent as anyone in his class, with a rare blend of size, athleticism, technical skill, and ball-winning ability that makes him a force in midfield. Though he doesn't always dominate games as consistently as he could, his box-to-box profile and final-third instincts allow him to impact matches in multiple ways, even without heavy involvement on the ball.
4. WING, Manu Romero, Real Madrid (↑2)
Rating: 5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇺🇾 🇪🇸
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Romero is a dynamic wide player with a lethal left foot, combining final-third instincts, one-on-one creativity, and impressive composure under pressure. Though he missed most of the season with a leg injury and his defensive game is still developing, he has the tools to contribute as a winger or adapt to left back.
5. DM, Adri Mehmeti, New York Red Bulls (↓1)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇦🇱
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Mehmeti is an extremely mature player who can be disruptive defensively and shows the instincts and technical ability to be a dynamic passer, though his ambition and accuracy have dipped this year. My main concern is his ability to play in space and cover ground effectively.
6. CF, Malik Jakupovic, Philadelphia Union (↑6)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇧🇦
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Jakupovic is likely the highest-ceiling striker in the youth pool—a tall, rangy, left-footed number nine with good feet and a knack for scoring. He still has room to climb even higher on this list.
7. CB, Tyson Espy, LAFC (No change)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Espy has a unique blend of size, pace, mobility, ball control, and defensive instincts, and he’s excellent at breaking pressure and taking space intelligently. If he grows another inch or two and continues to develop his passing range, he could become a top-level center-back prospect.
8. LB, Prince Forfor, Columbus Crew (↓3)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Forfor’s transition from attacker to wing-back has been seamless, as he’s already a strong one-on-one defender with an impressive physical and technical profile. While he currently relies on his blazing pace and has soft feet, he still needs to improve under pressure and add more deception to his game.
9. WING, Makai Wells, New England Revolution (↑6)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Wells is one of the cleanest, most technical wingers in the youth pipeline, with advanced footwork, great touch, and confident one-on-one ability—and his recent growth spurt and improved explosiveness have elevated him to a new level. If he continues to develop his off-ball movement, he’ll start impacting games in new ways and adding more goals to his game.
10. GK, Marcelo Avalos, Philadelphia Union (↓2)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 🇮🇸
Youth National Team: 🇲🇽 U-16
Avalos has all the tools to be a top shot stopper—positioning, reflexes, explosiveness, coordination, and flexibility—and he’s also a capable distributor with both feet. There is some concern he may be done growing, which would leave him at a below-average height for a keeper, and his handling remains an area for improvement, as he can sometimes parry or spill balls into dangerous areas.
11. CF, Zidane Cadet, Inter Miami (↓1)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇭🇹
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Cadet is a technically gifted striker with excellent feet, reliable hold-up play, and the ability to connect with teammates and create danger when driving at defenders. While his movement in the final third is strong, developing his vertical game will be important given he’s unlikely to be the biggest striker.
12. GK, Tobias Szewcyk, New York Red Bulls (↑4)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇵🇱
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Szewcyk is a very good shot stopping keeper with decent size, explosiveness, coordination, flexibility, reflexes and hand strength. He is also highly capable on the ball, with the ability to accurately place balls with both feet with good range.
13. CM, Judah Siqueira, New England Revolution (↑4)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇧🇷
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Siqueira is transitioning from winger to central midfield—a move that plays to his strengths as an above-average athlete with good feet, passing range, and a great feel for the game. He embraces the defensive work and shows shades of a young Weston McKennie in his all-around impact.
14. WING, Omar Hassan, Seattle Sounders (↓5)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇸🇴
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Hassan uses his pace, directness, and relentless motor to pressure backlines and disrupt opponents both in and out of possession. To reach the next level, he’ll need to refine his close control, improve his passing technique, and add more nuance to his attacking play.
15. RB, Linkon Ream, Real Salt Lake (↓1)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Ream is a well-rounded full-back who defends with strength, balance, and quickness, and can comfortably play on either side despite being right-footed. While he isn’t frequently asked to join the attack, he has the technical ability to contribute going forward when needed.
16. CF, Van Parker, Real Salt Lake (New addition)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
Youth National Team: 🇨🇦 U-16
Van Parker is a strong, fast, and direct striker who thrives on running in behind defenses, drifting into the channels, and taking on defenders. His physical tools are clear, but his spatial awareness and movement instincts still need refinement.
17. WING, Kashan Hines, Sporting Kansas City (↓6)
Rating: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇯🇲
Youth National Team: No appearances this cycle
Hines might be the most under appreciated player in this class, combining size, speed, agility, and technical skill with the ability to take players on and finish with both feet. He’s effective defensively and causes problems for opponents, but his next step is developing the consistency to impact every game.
18. WING, Darris Hyte, Chicago Fire (No change)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇵🇷
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Hyte is a smooth, intelligent winger who can create from either side, plays with good tempo and vision, and contributes in the final third. He also puts in the work defensively and thrives in a pressing system, and if his physical profile continues to develop, his upside is significant.
19. GK, James Donaldson, Atlanta United (New addition)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🏴
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Donaldson has good size, excellent agility in the box, and is one of the best distributors in the youth pool. If he can improve his shot-stopping and box control consistency, he has the potential to reach a 4.5 rating.
20. CB, Liam Vejrostek, FC Dallas (New addition)
Rating: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
Youth National Team: 🇺🇸 U-16
Vejrostek doesn’t flash elite tools consistently, but he does a lot of things well, and mobile, tall left-footed players who are comfortable on the ball always carry value. Despite being born very late in December, he’s now playing U-18s consistently—effectively two years up, something FC Dallas rarely does.
Disclaimer
I have not had the opportunity to thoroughly scout the following players in the last 12-months. If you have full game film for any of these players from the last 12-months, please contact me at marcus@ussoccercollective.com.
GK, Philipp Eckle (FC Augsburg), GK, Leonard Prescott (Bayern Munich), RB, Mattias Fernandez (Atletico Madrid), CB, Ethan Degny (Nice), CM, Gustavo Borges (Eintracht Frankfurt), CM, Desmond Barimah (Bristol City), CM, Malakai Ogunsemore (Darmstadt), AM, Cristiano Briceño (Atletico Madrid), WING, Jordan de Oliveira (Palmeiras), Lewis Dawley (Sporting Lisbon), WING, James Edward Wumah (Girona) and WING, Kairo Smith-Phillips (Crystal Palace)
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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