D.C. United Academy

D.C. United Academy
Full nameD.C. United Academy
Founded2005
StadiumSegra Field
LeagueMLS Next
UPSL
WebsiteClub website

The D.C. United Academy is the youth and development program for the Major League Soccer club D.C. United. The program consists of teams at four age levels:[1] the under-23 and under-20 teams, as well as the Academy (U-17, U-16, and U-15).

The D.C. United Academy has been one of the most successful MLS academies.[2] Many players have been signed directly from the Academy to the professional team, or have later played professionally. Notable players to have graduated from the D.C United Academy include Bill Hamid, who has been called up by the U.S. national team and who was the MLS 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year, and Andy Najar, who has been capped for Honduras and who was the MLS 2010 Rookie of the Year.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ "The kids are coming", ESPN, Leander Schaerlaeckens, June 1, 2010.
  2. ^ "DC United Announces Residential Academy", Vavel, Liam McMahon, February 20, 2015.
  3. ^ "D.C. United to launch youth academy residency program in Maryland", Washington Post, Steven Goff, February 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Orlando City eager to build strong pipeline from developmental academy to MLS level" Archived 2019-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Orlando Sentinel, Paul Tenorio, July 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "D.C. United’s Homegrown talent leads the way in MLS awards", SoccerWire.com, Chris Teale, December 9, 2014.