Caleb Stanko has signed his first pro contract with SC Freiburg, remaining with the Bundesliga club for the near future.
Former U.S. Under-20 midfielder Caleb Stanko signed his first professional contract with Bundesliga side SC Freiburg on Wednesday.
Stanko enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2013/2014 with Freiburg II in the Regionalliga, starting 30 times in 31 games and scoring two goals along with four yellow cards. Since joining the club in August 2011, Stanko has made 49 appearances at midfielder and centerback with the SC Freiburg II in Germany’s fourth division.
SC Freiburg declined to reveal details of the contract.
“Caleb Stanko is a flexible midfielder who likes to get stuck in, which can always cause surprising moments in the game,” sporting director Jochen Saier said on Freiburg’s website. “We are very pleased that another talent from the Freiburg youth academy is in the next step of his career with us.”
Stanko had a brief stint with the first team in March after getting his first call up prior to a league match against Werder Bremen.
“I have been training with the first team from the end of the season and I am already looking forward to the preparation for the new season,” Stanko told Freiburg’s website. “With the professional contract with SC Freiburg, I have achieved a great goal and I’m sure I will develop here as a soccer player in Freiburg even further.”
The 20-year-old Michigan native represented the United States in the 2013 Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, and is expected to make a splash with the U-23 team in Olympic Qualifying in 2016.
Do you see Stanko getting consistent Bundesliga time next season? Will he be critical to the United State’s Olympic success? Let us know in the comments below.