Josh Sargent
Introduction
Josh Sargent (born February 20, 2000) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Scott Gallagher Missouri and for the United States men's national under-20 soccer team. In May 2017 at the age of 17, he became the youngest U.S. player to score at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Early life
Sargent was born in O'Fallon, Missouri to Jeff and Liane Sargent, both of whom played college-level soccer. Josh joined the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club at 8 years old. He attended St. Dominic for part of his high school years, before moving to Florida to join the U.S. residency program. He was ranked as the #2 high school soccer player in the country. In high school, Sargent also played point guard as a starter on the St. Dominic basketball team.
Club career
Sargent currently plays for Scott Gallagher Missouri, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy Club from St. Louis, Missouri. After his impressive performance at 2016 Nike International Friendlies, he spent two weeks training with Sporting Kansas City in the summer of 2016 and the MLS club acquired the player's acquisition rights, as St. Louis is in Sporting Kansas City's homegrown player territory. In October of the same year, Sargent spent a week-long training spell with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. In January 2017, after being called for the United States U20 team, he trained with German club FC Schalke 04.
International career
Sargent first appeared in a United States U14 camp in 2013. In the same year, he was called for the United States U15.
In 2015, he joined the U-17 MNT Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida. He was a key part of the team that won the 2016 Nike International Friendlies, scoring four goals and notching two assists in three matches. On April 17, 2017 Sargent was included by the coach John Hackworth in the 20-man squad chosen to represent United States at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. He scored five goals in the tournament, including two goals in a victory over Mexico. He led the United States as they reached the final, and qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Only two days later, Sargent was surprisingly included by coach Tab Ramos in the 21-man squad called to represent United States at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. On May 22, the Americans debuted in the tournament against Ecuador. Sargent started the match, scored two goals, helping his team to tie the match and becoming the youngest American player to ever score in a U20 World Cup. Sargent became only the second U.S. player (after Freddy Adu) to play in the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in the same year.
On June 1, 2017, after scoring against New Zealand, Sargent joined Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson and Taylor Twellman, becoming one of the USA’s all-time goalscorers at the U-20 World Cup.