Bundesliga
Bayern snap up USA youngster Taylor Booth
Bayern Munich have secured the services of up-and-coming American midfielder Taylor Booth, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the record Bundesliga champions.
The 17-year-old, a product of the Real Salt Lake academy, was able to complete his move to Bayern ahead of his 18th birthday on 31 May 2019 after acquiring a European Union passport, and is set to kick off his Bavarian adventure with the club's U19s.
"We've been watching Taylor for some time and we're convinced of his excellent abilities," enthused FC Bayern Campus manager Jochen Sauer. "We're very pleased that he'll be playing for us in the future, and that we were able to acquire another exciting US talent."
Booth is the second American youngster to join the Bayern U19s this month after centre-back Chris Richards, who completed a full move from FC Dallas after a successful loan spell in the second half of 2018. Canada international prodigy Alphonso Davies, just 18, also signed for the senior squad at the start of January.
Born in Eden, Utah, Booth has made two appearances for the US U19s, scoring in a 2-2 friendly draw with Venezuela in September 2018. He was also the second-youngest player in the American squad at the FIFA U17 World Cup in India two years ago, where the US were knocked out by eventual champions England in the quarter-finals.
While Bayern are set to resume their U19 Bundesliga campaign in Ingolstadt on Saturday, Booth will link up with the club's U23s for a winter training camp in Dallas, Texas, as he works his way back to full match fitness. One thing's for sure: he can't wait to get stuck into life at Germany's most successful outfit.
"I'm overjoyed that the transfer has worked out," Booth declared. "Bayern are one of the biggest clubs in the world. I'm very proud to be here at the FC Bayern Campus in Munich, taking the next steps in my development."