Bundesliga
Hertha begin search for "next Gio Reyna or Christian Pulisic"
Hertha Berlin have announced a partnership programme with the International Soccer Academy with a view to unearthing the next great North American soccer players.
A team of U17 talents born in 2006 and 2007 will spend the 2022/23 season with the Hertha Academy, where they will train and compete against other Bundesliga youth teams and local clubs.
"America has a plethora of soccer talent," commented Dirk Dufner, Hertha director of recruitment.
"Finding the next [Christian Pulisic or [Gio] Reyna is our goal and is why we have partnered with International Soccer Academy."
Pulisic blazed a trail for a new wave of North American soccer players in the Bundesliga. The USMNT international spent four record-breaking years at Borussia Dortmund, before joining Chelsea in summer 2019.
Reyna is currently walking in his compatriot's footsteps for club and country, while the likes of Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig & USA) and Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich & Canada) have become household names since crossing the Atlantic for the German top flight.
Watch: Gio Reyna and the Bundesliga's 2022 FIFA World Cup-bound US stars
Schalke launched a similar co-op with the International Soccer Academy at the start of 2021/22, inviting 22 North American U18 players to spend the season at the club. Five have since earned deals with SC Verl's U19s.
"The United States has proven to be a force to reckoned with when it comes to soccer talents," enthused Hertha Academy director, Pablo Thiam. "We're looking forward to developing hidden stars."