US U-20 international Joel Sonora signs with Stuttgart after move from Boca Juniors

Joel Sonora with the US Under-17s

Joel Sonora’s move to Germany is official, with Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart announcing Friday that the US youth international has signed a second-team contract.

News of Sonora’s move surfaced earlier this month when he began training with Stuttgart after moving from the Boca Juniors youth ranks. In translated comments from Stuttgart’s website, head coach Walter Thomae said the team is “convinced of his abilities” after the trial.


"He can give our offensive play an important impetus,” he said. “The first step is that he settled quickly and his game adapts to German football."


The Dallas, Texas native and son of former Dallas Burn and Boca Juniors player Diego Sonora was a member of the 2015 U-20 World Cup team and USA’s 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship team, playing in all three matches and scoring against Honduras. He has featured prominently in Boca’s academy program since 2012.