Prodigies

It's Officially Official: Ricardo Pepi Moves To Bundesliga In Record-Breaking Deal

FC Dallas completed the transfer of striker Ricardo Pepi to FC Augsburg of the German Bundesliga on Monday.

Dallas received a reported $20 million fee, a club record that also makes the 18-year-old Pepi the most expensive outgoing homegrown player in MLS history.

Pepi, the 2021 MLS Young Player of the Year, signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Augsburg that includes a club option to extend the deal until the summer of 2027.

Pepi And Dike Realize European Dreams In Quest To Become USMNT's Starting Striker

On Saturday, West Bromwich Albion and Orlando City confirmed that 21-year-old striker Daryl Dike was headed to the Championship side on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee of $9.5 million.

Dike again joins forces with French manager Valérien Ismaël, who was Barnsley's boss last campaign when Dike scored nine goals in 19 second division appearances while on loan. Orlando is also in line to receive performance-based bonuses and 20% of any future sale.

Watch: Gavi Is Still Treating Defenses The Exact Same Way He Did At Age 12

The emergence of 17-year-old Pablo Páez Gavi for both Barcelona and Spain during the 2021-22 season has been criminally under-appreciated in the English-speaking world. It's a serious offense because just putting the La Masia product through the 90-minute eye test is enough to reveal a footballer of supreme talent, which is exceptionally rare when considering all the nuance and subtlety that comes with the midfield position. 

Bundesliga Club Becomes Clear Front-Runner In Race To Sign USMNT Striker Ricardo Pepi

After being linked with Inter Milan, Sampdoria, Ajax and Wolves, it looks like one club has distinguished itself as the clear front-runner for signing Ricardo Pepi this January.

As reported by the only guy that now reports this sort of thing, Fabrizio Romano, the 18-year-old USMNT phenom is on the verge of moving to the Bundesliga from FC Dallas with Wolfsburg currently leading the race.

Wolfsburg is 13th in the table because of an attack that's generated only 17 goals in 17 matches. Lukas Nmecha and Wout Weghorst both have six goals and no other player has more than two.

Bukayo Saka Delivers Masterclass In Arsenal's 5-0 Hammering Of Norwich City

NORWICH, England - Arsenal cruised to a 5-0 win at hapless bottom side Norwich City on Sunday, with Bukayo Saka's double helping them to secure the victory as they consolidated fourth place in the Premier League.

Saka opened the scoring early on before Kieran Tierney added another goal just before the break. The England forward got his brace midway through the second half, while Alexandre Lacazette, with a penalty, and Emile Smith Rowe wrapped up the victory.

Christian Pulisic Struggles With Weight Of Expectation After Pawn Stars Appearance

The Phenom Guy/LeBron James Of Soccer/Soccer Superstar/Center Midfielder/Captain America/Teacher's Exchange Program Standout/Top Player In The Premier League/Most-Watched On Chelsea FC Team/Favorably Compared With Messi + Ronaldo/Finest Soccer — Or "Football" — Player In The World, Christian Pulisic, went 90 minutes for only the third time this season against Wolves at the Molineux on Sunday, but the 23-year-old couldn't provide the magic in a match that finished 0-0.

Stanford And USYNT Defender Naomi Girma Selected No. 1 Overall In NWSL College Draft

The 10th annual NWSL Draft was held on Saturday evening, and with the No. 1 overall pick, expansion side San Diego Wave FC selected Stanford defender Naomi Girma, who was U.S. Soccer's 2020 Young Female Player of the Year.

Girma joins a San Diego backline anchored by USWNT veteran Abby Dahlkemper and former Stanford teammate Tegan McGrady. The 21-year-old can also play in midfield, where she may be needed after the club selected a forward, German international Marleen Schimmer out of Grand Canyon University, with its ninth pick in the first round.  

16-Year-Old American Phenom Reportedly Signs With Borussia Dortmund

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Landon high school junior Kristian Fletcher was named The Washington Post's All-Met Player of the Year after the forward recorded nine assists and 26 goals, including the winner in the Interstate Athletic Conference championship game, in just 17 games.

Real Madrid's 2-0 Win Over Atlético Was A Very Clear Transition Of Power

By defeating Atlético 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night for its seventh straight win in LaLiga, Real Madrid further enhanced its reputation as favorite while perhaps dooming Atléti's title defense before the campaign's halfway point.

The gap between first-place Real and fourth-place Atlético is already 13 points, and this edition of El Derbi highlighted what makes Carlo Ancelotti's side the best in Spain and a growing threat in the Champions League.

Barça's Teenagers Score 2 Great Goals, But Team Suffers Another Late Collapse In Osasuna Draw

Barcelona let three points slip from their grasp at Osasuna as a late stunner from Chimy Ávila secured a 2-2 draw for the hosts in LaLiga on Sunday.

Deprived of seven key players through injury, Barça coach Xavi Hernández was forced to turn to his youngsters and 19-year-olds Nico González and Abde Ezzalzouli both scored as the visitors twice took the lead.

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