Player Analysis: Caden Clark

There are few American players who have displayed technical skill as well as New York Red Bulls’ Caden Clark has since signing an MLS contract in October of 2020. At 17 years old, Caden Clark burst onto the scene scoring a volley from the top of the penalty area against Atlanta United just one day after signing for a New York Red Bulls team chasing a spot in the playoffs.

Clark scored again in his second MLS game, this time an even more impressive strike with his weaker left foot from 25 yards out into the top left corner of the Toronto FC goal. This goal was more telling of the player’s ability as he drifted between the lines, turned, and convincingly fired into an unsavable spot for the helpless goalkeeper. RBNY had just 7 games left when Clark was signed and went unbeaten in all but one – a derby game with New York City FC. Clark appeared in all seven games and helped his club reach the playoffs.

Since his rise to MLS stardom, Caden Clark has turned 18 years old, signed a contract with RB Leipzig, who he will join in January, and added seven more direct goal contributions in under 1000 minutes. Clark will not be the lone American upon arrival in Leipzig as he follows the path of Tyler Adams who made the jump from New York in 2019, and newly appointed manager Jesse Marsch who has been in the Red Bull system since 2015, starting with New York and having a successful spell with Salzburg between 2019 and 2021.