The Daily Dirt, June 24: MLS Homegrown transfers, Brexit, and Maradona

FC Dallas’ academy has been cited many times as the gold standard for MLS, and a model for Atlanta United to follow. They have produced more Homegrown signings than anyone else in MLS. As with all clubs, not all of the signings have struck gold, but their rich academy development pool has definitely paid off for the club.

It has paid off in other ways as well. Dallas transferred goalkeeper Richard Sanchez to Tigres of LigaMX in 2014 and pocketed a nice fee. Reports have US youth international Alex Zendejas heading to Chivas de Guadalajara for around $500,000 soon.

These players are not like Andy Najar from DC United, who began playing and performing at a high level in MLS before attracting the attention of Anderlecht and earning a $3M transfer fee. Sanchez went on loan to Ft. Lauderdale and never played in a Dallas uniform. Zendejas has played sparingly for the Dallas first team. The 18 year old will likely feature for Chivas’ reserve team upon his arrival.

All of these players have, or will, decided to play for other national teams. Najar opted to play for his homeland of Honduras rather than wait on US citizenship. Sanchez played for Mexico’s youth national teams while in Dallas. Zendejas is the most interesting case, he played nearly 30 times for the US U17 team. However, by signing with Chivas, he has to agree to never play to play for the US again and accept Mexican national team call-ups if they are awarded.

It’s easy to focus on the Homegrown players that star for the team, players like Diego Fagundez and Gyasi Zardes. However, MLS academies can benefit clubs financially as well. Dallas is showing the way.

America

USMNT midfielder Danny Williams attracting lots of interest and could be moving on from Reading this summer (The Tilehurst End)

How did the San Jose Earthquakes get their name? (MLS)

Niko Kranjčar leaves the New York Cosmos, joins Rangers in Scotland (This is Cosmos Country)

Univision’s ad sales are almost double what they paid to broadcast the Copa America Centenario (Bloomberg)

World

Brexit will affect European soccer, but how? (The Daily Mail)

Jamie Vardy staying put at Leicester City, signing a new four year contract (Fosse Posse)

Diego Maradona tells the Argentina national team to win or... (AS)

Lionel Messi is not happy with the travel agents at the Argentine Football Association (Goal)

Atlanta

Hawks fill needs, remain true to philosophy, with two first round draft selections (Peachtree Hoops)

GM Wes Wilcox makes Kent Bazemore a priority in the upcoming free agent signing period (Peachtree Hoops)

FalcFans podcast takes a look at the Falcons’ recent minicamp (The Falcoholic)