U.S. Abroad: Murphy debuts for Sheffield Wednesday

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 10, 2016

Teenager James Murphy made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday less than a month after he signed with the English Championship club in its 2-1 overtime loss to Cambridge United in the first round of the English League Cup.

Murphy, 18, entered the game in the 86th minute. Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal used the League Cup game to play several youngsters, among them Murphy and George Hirst, both called up from the academy team.

Murphy became the latest player from the Class of 2016 to sign with a European club instead of heading to college or signing with an MLS club. Murphy, who played for PDA in New Jersey, signed a three-year contract Sheffield Wednesday.

Murphy spent time with the Philadelphia Union in 2015 but didn't sign a pro contract. He had a long history with the U.S. youth national team program, most recently playing with the U-18s at the NTC Invitational in July 2015. His Irish citizenship allowed him to sign a pro contract with Wednesday.

Class of 2016 in Europe:
Danny Barbir, West Bromwich Albion
Luca de la Torre, Fulham
McKenze Gaines, Wolfsburg
Brooks Lennon, Liverpool
James Murphy, Sheffield Wednesday
Matthew Olosunde, Manchester United
Joshua Perez, Fiorentina
Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund
*Will Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund
Haji Wright, Schalke 04
*Playing as amateur

Class of 2016 in MLS:
Danilo Acosta, Real Salt Lake
Auston Trusty, Philadelphia Union

Class of 2016 in NASL:
Eric Calvillo. New York Cosmos
Alexis Velela, New York Cosmos

Class of 2016 in USL:
Hugo Arellano, LA Galaxy II
Pierre Da Silva, Orlando City B
Charly Flores, Rio Grande Valley FC
Ethan Zubak, LA Galaxy II