Bryan Leyva Heading Overseas?
July 21st, 2009 . 1:49 pm . By: Buzz CarrickAccording to Soccer America FCD Juniors Product Bryan Leyva is being courted by multiple clubs in Mexico, France, and Spain. The diminutive Leyva, who is nominally a midfielder but seems to have been playing a lot of striker lately, led the Developmental Academy in scoring (along with three other players) at Finals Week with four goals. It should come as no surprise to FCD supporters that the Red Stripes aren’t likely to land Leyva as he’s long been looking for a move. He first trained with Mexico at 14 and began exploring a pro contract years ago. Word around the water cooler in Dallas says citizenship/passport/immigration issues have prevented him from signing something to this point. Leyva has been in the FC Dallas program long enough, or he’s still young enough that eventually he will be in long enough, that FCD could some day sign Leyva directly into their pro squad. Leyva will sign somewhere eventually and it’s a long shot that will be in Dallas. 14 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
any word on Luna’s status? It seems his citizenship is unclear as well.
Being in the Juniors program, I’m hoping FCD would get a transfer fee?
JL, other than Luna committing to SMU I don’t know much about his status.
Steve, no transfer. They are free agents and can sign with anyone they like. being in the FCD youth system means FCD can sign them directly and not have to go through MLS draft or Ga program…. if of course you can get the player to agree to a contract.
Yes, I’d say it. In ALL countryes around the World, a player wich belongs to your junir program belongs to the club and cannot move overseas until he completes 18 (at least here in Brazil, and I believe it’s a FIFA rule) And FC Dallas has the right to receive a transfer fee.
Bruno, not here.
Youth players are amateur and have no legal or contractual obligation to FC Dallas. They are free to leave and play for anyone else.
Buzz, I’m confused by the story. Are you saying that other clubs could sign him now, but FCD can’t until “some day?” Or can FCD sign him on the same day that other clubs can? Do we know he wants to sign elsewhere? Is FCD even going to try to sign him?
Leyva has to be in the FCD Jr system for two years before FCD can sign him.
Anyone else in the world can sign him as soon as he’s 16.
Bruno,
What you say would be true if FCD required the Jr players to sign a contract. The problem with that is that they would then be forfeiting the ability to play soccer at a college (which is a good option for kids who don’t go pro). Because of this parents are reluctant to sign contracts with professional teams until its clear their kids are going to get paid.
Sounds to me like FCD is going to take a bath funding all these kids. How do they plan to recoup their costs when a kid can just say “preciate ya” and bolt for college or better when he graduates?
With the way the American model works that is just a risk they have to take. If nothing else it helps build the talent pool of young American players who may in the future perform for us. So while we may not like it, the development of young players can only benefit the players and club in the long run by creating a club from the academy level that players want to be a part of…
So does FCD have any claim on him if he goes abroad, decides it’s not for him 2 yrs down the road? Or does the fact that he left before reaching 2 yrs in the program mean that he can be claimed by any MLS team? Seems to be a lot of fuzzy areas on this.
Leyva played well at the recent tourney.
i play with bryan and im a really good friend with him…… he is practicing with the fcd pro team and the u-18 team.. he told me he was going 2 get sign this year maybe…. and so is luna……………….. and his one of the best players ive ever seen