Exploring the academy system at NYCFC | OneFootball

New York City FC, as a member of City Football Group, follows the group's model of a high-level academy system. Manchester City FC’s academy has produced some of the game’s top talent in Europe, and NYCFC has hosted top American talent like Gio Reyna.

Major League Soccer has made strides to expand and develop talent pipelines through MLS Next Pro, but the academies are the first step in this process. This includes NYCFC.

Looking at the NYCFC academy

Before the Bronx club can develop players, they must source the talent. The academy sources talent in many ways, including both open and registered tryouts, internal networks within schools, and local leagues. The club also has NYCFC Talent Centers that help give these players a chance to be scouted, as well as provide an elite training experience. Former Head Coach Patrick Viera was a guest at one of these centers.

If a player is invited to train at the academy, then they enjoy a free, top-level development program that can take them in from the age of twelve and turn them into legitimate talent. All academy teams U13 and up play in MLS Next. What separates the NYCFC’s academy from others in MLS is that they’re not afraid to give first-team contracts to their very young talent. Máximo Carrizo was signed at 14 years old.

At the same time, there can be a few problems. One of the issues that NYCFC has with the academy is that some players, even if they were signed to a contract very early, leave for other MLS clubs.

There is also the issue with players leaving to play with the other local team's academy, the New York Red Bulls. With another academy and club in such proximity, NYCFC has seen its largest academy issues center around retention.

That could be seen as having a negative impact, but it is important for a healthy and dedicated talent development process. MLS and the clubs should welcome that competition because of what it means for American soccer. The Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan signed with Manchester City to play there after he turns 18, and this should only be seen as positive for the American academy system.