The Bundesliga is home to some of the most exciting young players in world football. Currently enjoying a breakout season, Weston McKennie can count himself among them. bundesliga.com gives you the lowdown on Schalke’s versatile American prodigy.
Weston McKennie
Age: 19
Club: Schalke
Position: Central midfield
Country: USA (1 cap, 1 goal)
Watch: Schalke's wonderkid: Weston McKennie!
Key stats
McKennie got an early love for football when his father spent three years on military duty in Germany, and he joined local club FC Phönix Otterbach as a six-year-old. His combative nature no doubt developed while excelling at American Football on his family’s return to the United States, and was sharpened even further by playing alongside future Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic in US youth teams from the age of 13 on.
The Texas native made his Bundesliga debut on the final day of the 2016/17 season, and chalked up 13 league appearances in the first half of the following campaign before a knee injury checked his momentum. The holding midfielder’s tireless nature was evident on his first start following his recovery, however, as he covered 11.65 kilometres – the second highest tally in the game – during a 1-0 win over Mainz in March.
A glimpse into the future