The 2009 class continues to be the gold standard in the U.S. youth pipeline, pairing true blue-chip talent with strong depth across most positions and maintaining a steady upward trajectory. Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert—the two headliners of the group—both performed well at the U-17 World Cup while playing a year up, reaffirming their status as the top two prospects in the entire pool.
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Several players made major moves this year. Malik Jakupovic and Leonard Prescott both elevated themselves firmly into the blue-chip tier, while Adri Mehmeti delivered a standout season captaining the MLS Next Pro–winning Red Bulls side. KK Spivey has stagnated a bit, while Tyson Espy’s move to Orange County in USL gives him a clearer developmental runway and a real opportunity to accelerate his progression.

Positionally, the goalkeeper and center-back groups remain two of the class’s biggest strengths, offering depth and legitimate high-end upside. The full-back cohort, however, is trending in the wrong direction, and while the midfield has elite top-end talent, overall depth is still a concern. What once looked like an exceptional winger class has softened somewhat, though Myles Gardner has been a notable positive mover. The striker group is in a good place, largely thanks to Jakupovic’s emergence.
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The European contingent adds further intrigue. Gustavo Borges hasn’t played recently at Frankfurt—likely due to injury—but was an elite talent at the U-15 level, while Philipp Eckle, Ethan Degny, Kairo Smith-Phillips, and Wolves prospect Kaream Thomas are all names to monitor as the cycle progresses.
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The 2009s still have the potential to go down as an all-time American class, but there’s a long way to go—and plenty of opportunity for this group to push even higher.