One of the many U.S. Men’s National Team central midfield prospects is headed to Major League Soccer for the 2019 campaign.
On Saturday, New York City FC announced it signed Keaton Parks on loan from Benfica.
“It’s the best decision for me right now. It’s first division soccer, it’s good competition, it’s good experience and for me it’s the best opportunity for me right now,” Parks said. “I’m excited to be able to live in the biggest city in the world and to play with a very well-known club, a big club in front of all of our fans. I’m just excited to get started.”
Parks struggled to secure consistent playing time at Benfica after joining the club in 2017, as he has four total appearances to his name.
“Keaton is a young American player that can play at a few different spots in the midfield,” NYCFC head coach Domenec Torrent said. “He can play in the six position, but he can always play further up the field as an eight. Even though he’s a young player, he’s played professionally in Europe and that experience will help him as he joins our squad and competes for minute in our midfield.”
The move should help Parks gain traction with the USMNT under new manager Gregg Berhalter.
Parks made his only international appearance in May against Bolivia.
Probably helps his chances to make the GC if he’s playing. Of course now he’ll be judged on just his performance and not as much Benfica signed him he must be good.
I know this is neither here nor there, but New York is not remotely “the biggest city in the world”.
It’s metaphorical.
“It’s first division soccer, it’s good competition, it’s good experience and for me it’s the best opportunity for me right now,”……right now???? hahahaha justifying your move like its a step down for you?? hahahahaha try starting first. This is not your Grandmother’s MLS. Playtime is not guaranteed just because you are coming from Benfica…better be ready to put in the time mentally and physically
I read it differently, I read “right now” as a temporary deviation from his master plan. I think he wants to prove he is better than Benefica II team and probably get sold abroad again. NYCFC has a connection to ManCity FC. He may not make it at ManCity but their coach (Guardiola) is well connected with the Spanish League which is Parks final destination.
Curious to see how he does. I think that we will once again see that MLS is far from easy to play in. Several players that came from Portugal are not doing as well as expected.
Hopefully this loan will be a positive for him. The key will be how he’s used, and who he’s pared with. I just don’t know enough about how NYCFC to say if this is going to be a good fit.
That said he should get plenty of 1st team minutes and that should raise his visibility to the US Coaching staff as well as the average fans.
That could be interesting. He’s slick, sees it well, connects well, extremely technical…and in the limited time I’ve seen him he desperately looked like he needed regular PT because he wasn’t…quite…putting…it…together. Whole wasn’t equaling the sum of the parts.
Regular PT in MLS will definitely benefit him.