D.C. United Academy facts for kids
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| Full name | D.C. United Academy | ||
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| Founded | 2005 | ||
| Stadium | Segra Field | ||
| League | MLS Next | ||
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The D.C. United Academy is a special program that helps young soccer players grow their skills. It's like a training school for the professional soccer team D.C. United, which plays in Major League Soccer. The academy has different teams for players of various ages. These teams include players who are under 17, under 16, and under 15 years old.
The D.C. United Academy is known for being very successful. Many players from the academy have gone on to play for the main D.C. United team. Some have even become professional players for other teams. Famous players like Bill Hamid and Andy Najar started their careers here. Bill Hamid was named the best goalkeeper in MLS in 2014. Andy Najar was the best rookie player in MLS in 2010.
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Academy History
The D.C. United Academy started in 2005. Its goal was to give talented local players a chance to get professional soccer training. D.C. United was one of the first clubs in Major League Soccer to create its own youth academy.
In 2013, Michael Seaton, who came from the academy, played his first game for D.C. United. He was the first player in MLS history to play a game who was born after MLS began in 1996. In 2015, the club decided to spend a bit less on the academy. This helped them pay for their new soccer stadium.
How the Academy Works
The D.C. United Academy helps young players move up to the professional level. Like most Major League Soccer teams, D.C. United has youth teams that prepare players for the senior team.
| Level | Type | League |
|---|---|---|
| Senior team | Professional | Major League Soccer |
| Reserve team | Professional | USL Championship |
| U-18 | Academy | MLS Next |
| U-16 | ||
| U-15 | ||
| U-14 |
Since 2016, D.C. United has also had a reserve team called Loudoun United FC. This team plays in the USL Championship, which is a second-division league. Below the reserve and senior teams, there is an under-23 team. This team plays friendly matches.
The main academy has teams for teenagers, from under-15 to under-18. These teams play in MLS Next. They compete against other academy teams from all over the country. Before, they played in a league called the USSDA.
There is also a "Pre-Academy" for younger players, usually from under-12 to under-14. This helps them get used to how an academy works. These younger teams play in the Northeast Pre-Academy League. For players who are under 10, D.C. United offers special training camps. The D.C. United Academy is completely free for its players.
Famous Players from the Academy
Many talented players have come from the D.C. United Academy.
- Andy Najar was the first player from the D.C. United Academy to move to a European team permanently. He transferred to Anderlecht in Belgium for a lot of money.
- Chris Durkin was the youngest player to sign with D.C. United from the academy. He joined the team in 2016 when he was only 16 years old.
- Several academy players have also played for different U.S. national youth teams.
Academy Players Who Played in MLS
This list shows players who came from the D.C. United Academy and later played at least one game in Major League Soccer.
| Name | Turned Pro | DCU apps | Left DCU | Departure | National team (caps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Hamid | 2009 | 240 | — | — |  United States (7) |
| Andy Najar | 2010 | 100 | 2013 | $3 million transfer to Anderlecht (Belgium). |  Honduras (36) |
| Conor Shanosky | 2010 | 5 | 2014 | Released. Signed with Louisville City FC. | United States U20 |
| Ethan White | 2010 | 38 | 2013 | Traded to Philadelphia for Jeff Parke. | United States U20 |
| Michael Seaton | 2013 | 5 | 2015 | Traded to Portland. |  Jamaica (14) |
| Collin Martin | 2013 | 15 | 2016 | Traded to Minnesota for 4th round draft pick. | United States U20 |
| Jalen Robinson | 2014 | 26 | 2019 | Contract ended. | United States U23 |
| Chris Durkin | 2016 | 36 | 2020 | $1.1 million transfer to Sint-Truiden (Belgium). | United States U23 |
| Ian Harkes | 2017 | 33 | 2018 | Released. Signed with Dundee (Scotland). | United States U20 |
| Antonio Bustamante | 2019 | 2 | 2019 | Released. Signed with Blooming (Bolivia). |  Bolivia (2) |
| Donovan Pines | 2019 | 93 | 2023 | Signed with Barnsley F.C. | United States (2) |
| Griffin Yow | 2019 | 36 | 2022 | $100,000 transfer to K.V.C. Westerlo (Belgium) | United States (4) |
| Moses Nyeman | 2019 | 32 | 2022 | $350,000 transfer to S.K. Beveren (Belgium) | United States U20 |
| Kevin Paredes | 2020 | 41 | 2022 | $7.35 million transfer to VfL Wolfsburg (Germany) | United States (4) |
| Jacob Greene | 2021 | 16 | 2024 | Signed with Columbus Crew 2 | United States U20 |
| Jeremy Garay | 2021 | 3 | 2025 | Out of contract, joined Loudoun United |  El Salvador (2) |
| Ted Ku-DiPietro | 2022 | 70 | 2025 | Sold to Colorado Rapids | United States U23 |
| Jackson Hopkins | 2022 | 53 | United States U20 |
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| Matai Akinmboni | 2022 | 17 | 2025 | Transfer to AFC Bournemouth | United States U20 |
| Gavin Turner | 2025 | 1 | United States U16 |
Notes:
- D.C. United appearances were last updated on November 29, 2020.
- If a player played for different national teams (like the main team and an under-20 team), only the highest level is listed.
Source: D.C. United
Academy Teams
The D.C. United Academy has several teams for different age groups. These teams help players develop their skills and prepare for higher levels of soccer.
U19 Team
This team is for players who are under 19 years old. They train and play matches to improve their game.
U16/U17 Team
These teams are for players under 16 and under 17. They focus on advanced training and competitive play.
U15 Team
The U15 team helps younger players build a strong foundation in soccer. They learn important skills and teamwork.
U14 Team
This team is for players under 14. It's an important step for young athletes entering the academy system.
Coaching Staff
The D.C. United Academy has a dedicated team of coaches. They help guide and train the young players.
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| U-19 Head Coach |  Mattar M'Boge |
| U-17 Head Coach | Phil Gordon |
| U-15 Head Coach |  Marco Etcheverry |
| U-14 Head Coach |  Phil Nana |
Reserve Team History
From 2005 to 2012, D.C. United had a reserve team. This team played in the MLS Reserve Division. The reserve team stopped playing when MLS and USL Pro started a new partnership. D.C. United then partnered with Richmond Kickers as their USL Pro affiliate team.
Reserve Team Achievements
The D.C. United reserve team won one major title:
- MLS Reserve Division: 1
- 2005
See also
- D.C. United
- D.C. United U-23
- D.C. United U-20
- U.S. Soccer Development Academy
