Report: Dortmund Signs NYCFC Academy prospect Giovanni Reyna

Borussia Dortmund will take another dip into the American market as they appear to have signed US U-17 standout Giovanni Reyna, according to Ives Galarcep of Goal.com.

According to Galarcep, Reyna will join the Borussia Dortmund Academy from the New York City FC Academy after his 16th birthday in November thanks to a Portuguese passport through his paternal grandmother. Son of legendary USMNT captain and current NYCFC Director of Football Operations Claudio Reyna, Reyna helped lead the NYCFC Academy to the U-18/U-19 Development Academy championship and trained with the NYCFC first team this past MLS preseason.

Reports state that he’s one of the top players to watch coming through the American youth ranks. An attacking midfielder, he looks to have great passing vision, is a tidy finisher, and has the ability to read the game incredibly well and know when to make the important run on goal. Watching film of him, he needs to improve somewhat on his defending, but that’s something the brilliant coaches in the Dortmund Academy will help him improve among other aspects of his game to turn him into another first-team talent.

Dortmund had a lot of success with the last American prospect to come through, so Reyna has a lot to live up to. Luckily, if you follow US soccer Twitter or browse the appropriate reddit pages, it appears that this kid is legit and one of the brighter stars coming through the US youth set-up. I mean, he signed a deal with Adidas when he was 14, and he’s appeared in a commercial for the athletic company. People are hyping this kid up, but its possible that the hype is deserved. We’ll see in a few years if he’s a star for the club or if he’s languishing with the youth teams.

Good luck young Reyna, we’re all behind you!