The Red Bulls have added midfielder Caden Clark on loan from Red Bull Leipzig, the MLS club announced Wednesday.
Clark’s loan agreement will be for the 2022 MLS season with the option to extend.
To acquire Clark, the Red Bulls received the second overall spot in the MLS allocation order and a 2022 International roster slot from Toronto FC for $575,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money. The Red Bulls then sent $100,000 in 2022 GAM and the second overall spot to FC Cincinnati for the first overall position in the allocation order.
On June 24, 2021, Leipzig announced that Clark had signed with the Bundesliga team and loaned to New York for the rest of last season. The Red Bull organization did not say why the 18-year-old was loaned back to the Red Bulls for 2022.
“We are delighted to be able to bring Caden back this season with the opportunity to extend for a further year,” Red Bulls head of sport Kevin Thelwell said in a statement. “Caden has gained great experience last season in his time with us and also with the national team this offseason. I am sure this will stand him in good stead for a great season.”
In his first full season with the Red Bulls in 2021, Clark recorded four goals and five assists in 24 matches over 1,509 minutes. The Medina, Minn. native has tallied six goal and five assists over 1,788 minutes in 31 games since signing a first-team contract on Oct. 10, 2020.
“I am happy to see Caden rejoin us for this season,” Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber. “His knowledge of our system and skill set will help build depth in the team.”
When Clark registered goals against Atlanta and Toronto to begin his MLS career in 2020, he became the youngest player in league history to score in his first two career MLS regular-season matches. Je continued his regular-season success with his first playoff goal in his postseason debut. At 17 years, 178 days, Clark is the youngest player to score in the MLS Cup Playoffs since former Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore (16 years, 357 days) on Oct. 29, 2006 vs D.C. United.
The 5-11, 150-lb. Clark earned his first career call-up to the U.S. men’s national team in December. He most recently competed with the Under-20 MNT in the 2021 Revelations Cup. he recorded his first two caps, which included his first start against U-18 Brazil then wore the captain’s armband in a 1-1 draw against U-19 Colombia.
