Bayern to field U.S. integrated academy team
A third cooperation agreement between the USA's International Soccer Academy (ISA) and a top-tier Bundesliga side has been confirmed. The FC Bayern München Campus will now join Schalke's "Knappenschmiede" and Hertha's youth academy in fielding a youth team comprised of U.S. talent.
Some two years after an agreement with FC Schalke 04 created a unique Bundesliga integrated academy team comprised solely of U.S. talent, America's International Soccer Academy (ISA) has now confirmed its third professional agreement with a Bundesliga club. Schalke has run an integrated U18 academy team comprised solely of U.S. teenagers for two seasons. An initial planned cooperation with Eintracht Frankfurt ended up following former SGE sporting CEO Fredi Bobic to Hertha Berlin. Hertha's U17 American academy squad is just concluding its first season.
The latest Bundesliga club to announce a cooperative agreement is none other than German giants FC Bayern München. The famous FC Bayern campus is set to welcome a U17 squad next autumn. The club has confirmed this agreement and the ISA is currently accepting applications for youngsters born in the years 2007/08. German footballing legend and current FCB Campus manager Halil Altintop has issued a statement noting that the campus is "happy to welcome players from the U.S to the campus".
Since its inception in 2020, the ISA program - which also has programs in Spain, France, and at the Sportwerk Academy in the Westphalian town of Ochtrup - have produced 18 signings involving 12 players in German football. Creighton Braun (VfB Germania Halberstadt) and Joe-Joe Richardson (Griefswalder FC) are currently starting for their German fourth-tier-sides. Richardson is in the midst of a 18-scorer-point campaign for Grieswald and has an estimated market worth of €125,000 in the latest transfermarkt listings.
Very proud of our launch with@FCBayernEN
— International Soccer Academy (@IntSoccerAcad) May 2, 2023
-- scouting for players for the FC Bayern Global Academy pic.twitter.com/OiDJQ7SwVH