Teen Caden Clark headed to RB Leipzig after 2021 MLS season

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 24, 2021

Less than a month after he turned 18, the New York Red Bulls completed a deal with German Bundesliga runner-up RB Leipzig for Caden Clark's transfer.

Clark will remain with the Red Bulls through the end of the 2021 season, his first full MLS season. At Leipzig, he will join its new head coach, former Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, and former Red Bulls player Tyler Adams, who moved to the Bundesliga in 2019 when he was 19.

Brian Sciaretta: Caden Clark proceeds on the promising Red Bull path with U.S. national team in sight

The Medina, Minnesota, native attended the Barca Residency Academy in Arizona and signed with New York Red Bulls II last season when he was 16. He moved up to the first team in October 2021 and scored his first goal in his debut at Atlanta United, becoming the fifth youngest player in MLS history to score on his MLS debut. He then scored the equalizer against Toronto FC in his second match to become the youngest player to score in his first two MLS games.

Clark, who is currently sidelined following an appendectomy, has scored six goals in 15 MLS games in addition to one goal in his lone playoff match. He is one the USA's provisional list of 60 players for the Gold Cup.

“Everyone at the club is very excited for Caden to take the next step in his professional journey,” said Red Bulls head of sport Kevin Thelwell. “From the time Caden joined us, I think we all recognized that if he continued to work hard and take advantage of his opportunities, Caden had the potential to move to Europe. We’re delighted to have played a role and helped him make the jump to a top-five league like the Bundesliga.”