Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com
U.S. Under-17 men's national team attacking midfielder Junior Flores is one of the top prospects in the American pipeline, and German Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund are convinced he could be one for the future.
Dortmund has signed the 16-year-old Flores to a professional contract, the Orlando Sentinel's Paul Tenorio reported on Twitter on Thursday evening. The professional portion of the contract will take effect in March of 2014, when he turns 18 (by FIFA rule, players can't sign binding professional contracts outside of their home nation until they turn 18).
Flores signed a four-year deal with the club and he is expected to train with Dortmund periodically between now and until he turns 18. According to the Washington Post, Flores also signed a two-year deal with Nike, which kicks in immediately.
Flores had a breakout showing with the U.S. Under-17 team last winter and that drew reported interest from clubs across the globe, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. Flores had also received interest from MLS, but what it offered was substantially lower than what Dortmund was willing to give him.
Born in Los Angeles to Salvadoran parents, Flores is eligible to play for El Salvador or the United States at the international level but, to this point, he has committed to playing for the Americans.
What do you think about this move? Like the idea of another U.S. youth prospect developing in Germany? Disappointed MLS didn't sign him?
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