Looking Closer: Christian Pulisic
Oh boy oh boy, it’s been a while since we’ve done one of these, and what an amazing one to come back with. Late last night German newspaper Bild broke a story reporting that Stoke have made a bid for promising winger Christian Pulisic. For those that aren’t familiar with the American through Football Manager or watching the Bundesliga let’s look at der BVB’s most exciting talent.
At only 17 Pulisic is one of the hottest, if not the hottest, under 18 talents in Europe. A pacey and talented attacking midfielder who is comfortable across all 3 attacking midfield positions. Pulisic will often be seen dribbling at the defence or breaking in behind, and with an eye for goal he has an astoundingly prolific youth record. In January 2015 Dortmund came calling and the American made his way across the Atlantic to join up with their under 17 squad. He developed over the spring and in the summer of 2015 earned a promotion to the under 19 squad.
This is where Pulisic’s astonishingly meteoric rise began. In the brief months the American was with the under 19’s he made 15 appearances, creating 8 assists and scoring 10 goals, earning him a move to the Senior squad only a year after joining Dortmund. Pulisic made his competitive debut in late January and continued his rise as he finished the season with 12 appearances and 2 goals. This did not go unnoticed and Jurgen Klinsmann called the German based attacker up to the US national team, and he currently has 6 caps with 1 goal to his name in international footballer. Pulisic has earned some notable records during his brief professional career, and they are as follows:
– Youngest non-German Bundesliga scorer
– 4th Youngest Bundesliga scorer
– Youngest Bundesliga scorer to two goals
– Youngest American to play a World Cup qualifier
– Youngest American to score an international goal
For those worried that this could be another nothing academy signing, who we will not see for several years if at all, you would be totally wrong. Firstly he was only with the Dortmund academy for 12 months, and this is one of the most prestigious academy systems in the world, so there is no way he would be near ours. Secondly the reported bid is 20 million Euro’s, yes twenty. This would make Pulisic the 3rd most expensive 17 year old ever, coming in just behind Alexandre Pato and Romelu Lukaku, it would also be the 10th most expensive teenager signing in the Premier League.
Pulisic has begun the season well with a goal in the International Champions Trophy against Pep Guardiola’s Man City (you’re a week too late Sparky). And he also found himself on the scoresheet in the traditional German curtain raiser, the first round of the DFB Cup. With an abundance of attacking talent and a truly phenomenal offer on the table it may be hard for the player and Dortmund to turn this deal down. If successful heads will once again turn in the direction of the Potteries, and with such a successful 18 months in Germany, it can be hopped Pulisic will devastate the Premier League.
P.S. Highlights Video, you know the drill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oo-AWqeUeo
Written by Tom Thrower
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