Top 5 U19 Players in MLS - Expected Goals & Assists

With the MLS now on break till next season, it is a good time to take a look at which teenage players have had a big impact on the field for their teams. In this short piece we will take a quick look at which of these players led the way in terms of non-penalty expected goals and expected assists for the season (npxG + xA). 

 *All stats from StatsBomb*

*Bold and italicized number is value of npxG + xA for the season for the player *

Ricardo Pepi (CF, FC Dallas (recently transferred to  Augsburg), USA/Mexico) - 11.2 

 

Cole Bassett (CM, Colorado Rapids, USA) - 10.5

Cade Cowell (CF, San Jose Earthquakes, USA/Mexico) - 8.0

Sunusi Ibrahim (CF, CF Montreal, Nigeria) - 5.9

Efrain Alvarez (AM, LA Galaxy, Mexico/USA) - 5.8

 

A very promising observation across these 5 players is the fact that 4 of them were eligible to play for the USA. At the same time, 3 of these players are also eligible to play for Mexico. 3 of the 4 that could represented the USA (Pepi, Bassett, Cowell) have done so already, while Efrain Alvarez represents Mexico on the international stage. Definitely all players to watch given their young age and the strong numbers of expected goals and assists they have. Pepi already an example, that big European clubs are taking notice of these teenage MLS players, as he just recently transferred to Augsburg in the Bundesliga for a transfer fee of $20 million. Interesting to see who will be the next to follow.