Prodigies

Multiples sources have now confirmed that the Riqui Puig LA Galaxy contract has been agreed to, with the 23-year-old joining from Barcelona on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.

Barça manager Xavi told Puig back in May that he wasn't part of the club's midfield plans for the new campaign, and after being left off the team's preseason tour of the United States, the "next Iniesta" has signed a three-year deal ahead of the MLS transfer window closing Thursday.

Leeds United completed its final preseason fixture ahead of opening the Premier League campaign against Wolves on Aug. 6, and Jesse Marsch's men delighted a crowd of nearly 30,000 at Elland Road with a 6-2 beatdown of Serie B side Cagliari.

Marsch selected both of his American players in the starting XI with Tyler Adams playing in the midfield pivot role alongside Marc Roca. Brenden Aaronson was in a front three with Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford.

Crystal Palace have signed American international defender Chris Richards from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract, both clubs said on Wednesday.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. BBC reported Palace will pay an initial $10.33 million for the 22-year-old center back, with the fee rising to $13.35 million with add-ons.

After becoming the youngest goal scorer in NWSL history last month, 16-year-old Portland Thorns prodigy Olivia Moultrie got her second of the season Saturday night and it'll certainly be up for Goal of the Week honors.

The Thorns welcomed Gotham FC to Providence Park with Portland near the top of the table and NJ/NY beneath the playoff line, and it only took the home side five minutes to open the scoring through Taylor Porter after Gotham failed to clear a corner kick.

Brace yourself for the sequel, Bend It Like Beckham 2: Going Bottom Bins On Orlando City B, because 19-year-old Romeo Beckham, son of Old Golden Balls himself, has curled home his first set-piece goal for Inter Miami CF II in MLS Next Pro.

Romeo's first foray into football was back in 2014 with Arsenal's Academy, but he was released and briefly pursued a fledgling tennis career while training alongside Andy Murray. However, he returned to the sport last year by joining Miami's reserve team and it looks like the correct decision. 

The wait is over! It’s been 14 years since the U.S. men’s team competed at the Olympics and that drought will end in Paris in two years because the U.S. U-20 team has qualified. The Americans defeated host Honduras 3-0 on Friday in the Concacaf U-20 Championship semifinal to secure one of the two Concacaf berths for the 2024 Olympics.

The shock underdogs Dominican Republic claimed the other Olympic spot.

The United States men's U-20 team beat Costa Rica 2-0 on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, clinching a place at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and moving one win away from a spot at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Philadelphia Union's Paxten Aaronson — younger brother of Leeds United and USMNT attacker Brenden Aaronson — was man of the match for the USYNT with both goals.

The United States men's U-20 team hammered Nicaragua 5-0 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras. Victory over Costa Rica on Tuesday would guarantee passage to the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, but the ultimate goal is a win in the semifinals on July 1 to book a place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.