TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
New York City FC announced on Wednesday that academy prospect Joe Scally has signed an MLS Homegrown contract, making the 15-year old NYCFC’s second-ever Homegrown Player, following in the footsteps of James Sands.
Scally, who joined the first team for preseason training camps in Jacksonville, Florida, Los Angeles and Mexico, will finish out the remainder of the school year before commencing full-time training with the senior squad in the summer.
“It’s a dream come true for me, I’ve wanted to be a professional soccer player ever since I was a little kid and to get to do it right here at home in New York, at this club, makes it extra special,” Scally told NYCFC.com. “It was an easy decision. There are so many great professional coaches and players here who can help me improve every aspect of my game.”
Welcome to the First Team, Joe! 👕 #NYCFCHomegrownpic.twitter.com/N6OTsHrdc5
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) March 21, 2018
An attacking-minded right back who only turned 15 on New Year’s Eve, Scally has played three years above his age group with NYCFC’s academy and has been an important part of the US U-15 and U-17 national teams. He was also a key member of the New York City U-17 team which lifted the club’s first piece of silverware at last year’s Generation adidas Cup in Frisco, Texas, winning the event’s Premier Division.
Scally will join his NYCFC U-17 teammates in Texas this weekend, where they will take on Real Madrid, Atletico Paranaense and Sporting KC in the 2018 Generation adidas Cup’s Champions Division.
“Joe is a really young prospect in our football club, he has really good pace, he’s good at going forward and his quality will fit really well with the way we want to play,” said NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira. “I know that he’s really young, but I think signing his first professional contract is really good for the club and for him – he deserves it, he’s got the talent.
“He’s spent time with the first team and I like his engine going forward and I like his strong personality, which is really impressive for someone so young.”
Scally becomes the fifth player from his 2002-born age group to earn an MLS Homegrown contract, following George Bello (Atlanta United), Gianluca Busio (Sporting KC), Efrain Alvarez (LA Galaxy) and Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes).
