Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
One of the most promising young American midfielders in Europe is leaving to join MLS.
The Columbus Crew have completed the signing of Under-20 USMNT midfielder Romain Gall from French side FC Lorient, a source told SBI. The Crew acquired Gall, a French-American, in a weighted lottery conducted by MLS.
“We feel like this is a kid with ability,” Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter told the team’s website. “19-years-old, great attacking ability, a dynamic part of the [United States] Youth National Team program. We feel like it’s a good addition to the team. We’re happy and looking forward to bringing him in.”
Gall joins the Crew on his first professional contract from the Lorient academy, where he has played since joining in 2011 after a successful trial.
Although born in France, Gall lived in Herndon, Va., from the age of seven to 16. At the age of 15, Gall received his U.S. passport and began to receive U.S. youth national team call-ups in 2012. Gall featured for the U.S. U-18s numerous times in 2012 and 2013, especially in European competitions and friendly matches, and has now moved up to the U-20s.
Gall played with the U-20s most recently at the NTC Invitational in California last July and scored one goal and one assist in the U-20s runner-up performance at this year’s Dallas Cup.
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What do you think of this news? Excited to see a playmaking midfielder prospect come to MLS? Do you expect him to play much for the Crew the rest of this season?
Share your thoughts below.