Fulham Football Club have agreed a partnership with NCE Soccer to spearhead their search for American soccer talent.
They will work with the National Center of Excellence to find boys and girls with the potential to flourish in the Premier League.
The Premier League outfit have been hugely impressed with NCE Soccer’s work in developing young players who have gone onto sign professional terms.
Maximo Carrizo became the youngster player in MLS History to sign pro terms when he joined New York Football City aged just 14-years in March.
He follows former NCE Soccer graduates Cooper Flax, Dren Dobruna and Diego Rossi to NYFC whilst Curtis Ofori continues to impress for the New York Red Bulls.
All five players benefited from supplementary soccer training with former Manchester United and England professional John Curtis at NCE Soccer, who has also helped scores of players to secure places at leading Universities and Colleges.
Potential
Now NCE Soccer will team up with Fulham Football Club’s global Academy partner Procamps UK to find boys and girls in the US that could have the potential to make the grade at Craven Cottage.
“We are delighted to be working with NCE Soccer and Procamps UK in America,” explained Fulham Football Club’s Head of Development Huw Jennings.
“We became aware of NCE through our work with Procamps in the US. They have developed an excellent program designed to ensure talent is fostered and developed to be the best it can be.
“We know all about John Curtis. He is is steeped in football talent factory, coming from Manchester United and rising through the ranks to have a very successful professional career, and of course played through the England age rank levels as well. We know John will leave no stone unturned to try and ensure that talent has every chance of success.”
Global Search
Fulham have invested heavily into developing their youth Academy and are one of just 28 clubs in the UK to have achieved Category One status under the new Elite Player Performance Plan.
They scour the world for emerging talent and through Procamps UK already have Academy projects in France and South Africa.
Huw, added: “We welcome the Fulham brand, which stands for excellence, being associated with Procamps UK and NCE across the whole of America because we recognise there is a gap in the market.
“We know youngsters aspire to get the best possible training to go subsequently onto Academies and professional clubs across the US and indeed the world and we can see they need specialist work with John and his team at NCE.
“Procamps UK have been our global academy soccer camps partner for three years now. In spite of Covid they have been able to run programs in France, South Africa and also looking now to be involved in other countries in Europe.
“We are really positive about having the opportunity of having the Academy experience in local terror ties offers to local people.”
Honour
Fulham Football Club are a leading developer of young players with an Academy that has produced professionals including Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott, Marek Rodak, Ryan Sessegnon, Moussa Dembele and Chris Smalling to name but a few.
Now NCE Soccer will be hoping to introduce talented American players to the Fulham Academy program and, hopefully, the Premier League.
“It’s a huge honour for NCE Soccer to be asked to work with Fulham Football Club and Pro Camps UK and a fitting recognition to the high standards and reputation we are created in American,” explained NCE Soccer founder John Curtis.
“Fulham are a fantastic football club with a terrific reputation for breeding young players and we are proud to work with them in extending their outreach into America.
“They have also proven themselves to be fan of Americans, having played more players in the Premier League than any other club. Hopefully we can add to that list.
“There are no guarantees, and this does not represent a fast track to the Premier League but it does mean that good players will work with top coaches, they will improve and they have will have the opportunity to make an impression on the people who make the decisions.”
Fulham have close links with America and boast the proud record of having played more American players in the Premier League than any other top flight club.
The so-called ‘Fulhamerica’ legacy began in 1999 when goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann joined the club, followed swiftly by Eddie Lewis and three former US captains in Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey and Casey Keller.
Antonee Robinson became the 11th US professional to represent Fulham in the Premier League in 2020 and Under 23 talents Marlon Fossey (defender), Alex Borto (Goalkeeper) and academy prospect Devan Tanton are all hoping to add to that roll call next season.
* For marketing or media enquiries regarding NCE Soccer, Procamps UK or the Fulham Academy Global Talent Search contact Onside PR via this link.
