D.C. United have signed D.C. United Academy product, Moses Nyeman, as the 13th Homegrown Signing in club history. The 15-year-old midfielder joins Bill Hamid, Chris Durkin, Jalen Robinson, Donovan Pines, Antonio Bustamante and Griffin Yow on the list of Academy products currently playing for the Black-and-Red. Nyeman will spend the remainder of he 2019 season with D.C. United’s USL Championship affiliate Loudoun United FC

 

“Moses is a promising young prospect who has grown exponentially in the last 18 months with our Academy and has gotten extensive professional minutes with our USL Championship affiliate, Loudoun United FC,” Dave Kasper, D.C. United General Manager and VP of Soccer Operations, said. “He has been a top performer for our U-16’s and we’re looking forward to utilizing Loudoun United to continue his development as a player with hopes of having him on the field for the Black-and-Red in the near future.” 

 

Born in Riverdale, Md., Nyeman has been a member of the D.C. United academy since 2015 at the U-12 level. The midfielder has appeared in 83 games (70 starts) for the Black-and-Red. Nyeman has scored 10 goals for United’s Academy and his impressive performances earned him a call-up to the U.S. U-16 Boys’ National Team Training Camp in 2018. 

 

Nyeman made his professional debut for United’s USL Championship affiliate club, Loudoun United FC, as a 71st-minute substitute against the Swope Park Rangers on June 6, 2019. The academy product made his full professional debut as a starter for Loudoun against Louisville City FC on June 9 and played 61 minutes in the match. Moses recorded his first professional goal for LUFC on July 29 in the 87th-minute to secure a 3-0 win against Louisville City. In total, Moses has scored one goal and recorded one assist in 11 games (six starts) for Loudoun United in 2019. 

 

“We are incredibly proud of Moses and his efforts to reach the first team,” Dave Sanford, D.C. United Academy Director, said. “He’s obviously talented but his mentality and drive make him unique and a truly promising young prospect for the Black-and-Red. Moses is now the 13th Homegrown signing in club history and we’re excited to continue utilizing our academy as a pipeline to the first team. Credit to all the staff that have been involved in his development over the years leading up to this point.” 

 

“When ownership and Dave Kasper looked to start Loudoun United, this was exactly what they had in mind, a true pathway for talented young players like Moses to make the jump from the academy to the professional level and hopefully into the first team down the road,” Ryan Martin, Loudoun United Head Coach and former Academy Director, said. “This is truly a special day for the whole club from the academy, to Loudoun United and ultimately D.C. United. He is the first player to have gone through the D.C. United professional pathway starting as an academy player, who went through the full pyramid of the club. We are excited for more young players to follow in Moses’ footsteps.”  

 

The D.C. United Academy remains one of the most successful youth systems for developing soccer players in the United States. D.C. United have produced six Homegrown players that have accumulated over 1,000 minutes played in Major League Soccer. The third-most in MLS history behind Real Salt Lake (eight) and FC Dallas (seven). The Black-and-Red now have seven Homegrown Players on their roster in Moses Nyeman, Bill Hamid, Jalen Robinson, Antonio Bustamante, Griffin Yow, Chris Durkin (on loan) and Donovan Pines. Hamid has recorded the most minutes played as a Homegrown Player in MLS history (20,499 minutes played). In 2019, Hamid has broken the D.C. United single-season shutout record with 13 clean sheets with one match remaining in the MLS Regular Season.