Seattle Sounders Academy has emerged as one of the top producers of talented prospects in recent years, and people are starting to take notice.
Will Parchman, a staff writer for The Athletic who covers the American soccer landscape, penned an article covering the top 20 players in MLS academies. Two of the names on the list, winger Ethan Dobbelaere and striker Austin Brummett, are longtime members of the Sounders youth setup.
Dobbelaere, 17, is in his sixth season with the club, having entered the pipeline with the Sounders Discovery Program before making a name for himself on the full-time teams. His stellar performances in Rave Green, which include lifting the Youdan Trophy and playing a key role in winning the 2019 Generation adidas Cup, earned him minutes with the Tacoma Defiance. A Seattle United alum, Dobbelaere traveled with the First Team for the first phase of preseason in Southern California.
“Dobbelaere is one of the best dribblers in his 2021 class, and he’s especially good in tight spaces,” wrote Parchman. “He’s also a quality passer, and while he thrives mostly on the wing, he can tuck inside and combine well there, too. We’ll be seeing much more from him in 2020.”
Brummett, 15, is a well-rounded No. 9 who’s become a regular on the United States Youth National Team circuit. Currently playing up with the Sounders U-19 side, the New Hampshire native became the youngest player in USL Championship history last season, when he made his debut as a substitute against Phoenix Rising.
“If he continues his current trajectory, he’ll be banging on the first-team door in the next year or two,” wrote Parchman. “He still has some maturing to do in front of the net, but he’s as lethal a finisher as you’ll find in the academy, and his skill set translates remarkably well to the next level.”
You can read the full article here.
