Josh Sargent


Joshua Thomas Sargent is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga and for the United States national 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 No. 2 high school soccer player in the country.

Club career

Early career

Sargent played for Scott Gallagher Missouri, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy club from St. Louis, Missouri. After his impressive performance at the 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.

Werder Bremen

On September 20, 2017, Werder Bremen announced that Sargent would join the club on January 1, 2018 and then sign a professional contract on his 18th birthday, per FIFA rules. He played with the club's under-23 squad in a friendly match and signed his contract on February 20, 2018, making him eligible to join the first team for the 2018–19 season.
On December 7, 2018, Sargent made his debut for the Werder Bremen first team coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute in a match against Fortuna Düsseldorf. He scored with his first touch of the match in the 78th minute, the fastest goal by a debutant in club history.
In February 2019, Sargent agreed to a "long-term" contract extension with the club.

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 is the second U.S. player 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 U.S.'s all-time goalscorers at the U-20 World Cup.
On November 7, 2017 Sargent received his first senior call up for a friendly against Portugal. He thus became, the only American player to ever appear in a U-17, U-20 and MNT camp during the same calendar year. On May 28, 2018, Sargent earned his first cap for the senior team for a friendly against Bolivia and scored his first international goal. He became the fourth-youngest player to score for the United States, until Timothy Weah scored his first goal minutes later.

Career statistics

Club

International

#DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.May 28, 2018Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, United States12–03–0Friendly
2.October 16, 2018Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, United States51–01–1Friendly
3.October 11, 2019Audi Field, Washington, D.C., United States106–07–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
4.November 19, 2019Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, Cayman Islands121–04–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
5.November 19, 2019Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, Cayman Islands124–04–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honors

United States U17