Contrary to a note posted on the US Soccer Development Academy’s website on Thursday, FC Dallas academy star Weston McKennie has not yet signed with German Bundesliga club Schalke.
An FC Dallas spokesperson confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Thursday that McKennie has not yet signed a pro deal and that the club have offered the US Under-20 national team midfielder a Homegrown contract. Sports Illustrated's Brian Straus reported that McKennie, who didn't play for the FCD U-18s as they won the academy title last week, did go to Germany to visit Schalke.
The US Soccer Development Academy named McKennie the Under-17/18 Central Conference player of the year on Thursday. In the statement, the USSDA wrote that McKennie “recently signed a professional contract with Germany’s FC Schalke 04.” The USSDA removed that line from their release later on Thursday.
McKennie himself cleared the situation up on Thursday, tweeting that the USSDA's statement wasn't true.
McKennie, who will turn 18 in August, scored 12 goals from his central midfield position in the 2015-16 academy season. He also established himself as a mainstay in the US youth national team setup, earning MVP honors at the Slovakia Cup with the US U-19s earlier this year and earning a spot on the U-20 roster for the NTC Invitational earlier this summer.
FC Dallas, who won both the U-16 and U-18 academy titles last Saturday, have perhaps the most robust academy in MLS. Dallas have frequently signed academy graduates to Homegrown contracts, with former academy players Kellyn Acosta, Victor Ulloa and Jesse Gonzalez all playing key roles in the strong 2016 season.
