Ben Lederman, the Southern Californian who joined Barcelona’s academy at age 11 but was banned from playing for the club when Barcelona was found in violation of FIFA regulations onregistration of minors outside the EU in 2014, has obtained a Polish passport that will make him eligible to compete in January, reports Jeff Carlisle. Now 16,Lederman returned to the USA in 2015 and joined the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida and was on the U.S. U-17 Residency Program roster for the spring semester.
Lederman, who was one of 10 playerscited by FIFA as Barcelona’s “illegal international transfers,” is reportedly back at La Masia training with Barcelona’s youth teams.
FIFA’s prohibition on youth players registering with aclub outside their home country until they are 18 makes an exception for players moving between European nations, allowing transfers as of age 16.
This is great for him, hope the 2 years away didnt screw him up with Barca.