He’s captained the United States U-19 National Team.

He’s been compared to current Liverpool and Netherlands center back Virgil van Dijk.

Now, 17-year-old Louisville City center back Joshua Wynder is setting a new market for young talent in the USL, as TransferMarkt.com put a $1 million valuation on the Louisville, Ky. native.

The runner-up for the USL Championship’s 2022 Young Player of the Year award is now positioned among the top 2005 age-group center backs in the world and the best 2005 players overall in the Concacaf region.

After a year in which the USL Championship’s transfer record was broken on multiple occasions – most recently by 2021 Championship MVP Hadji Barry’s sale to Egyptian Premier League club Future FC in September – Wynder’s prior projection as the first potential seven-figure sale in league history is that much closer to become reality.

With Wynder set to turn 18 years old on May 2 – shortly before the summer transfer window opens in Europe – he could soon be the next talented USL Championship-developed youngster to make the jump across the Atlantic Ocean, following the likes of former LouCity teammate Jonathan Gomez, former Orange County SC center back Kobi Henry, and former San Antonio FC winger Jose Gallegos.

Other notable USL Championship talent saw their values rise in addition to Wynder, according to TransferMarkt.com. Orange County SC forward and 2022 Championship Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski jumped to a $500,000 valuation, while fellow 23-year-old Wilson Harris of Louisville City moved up to a $450,000 valuation.

Another top U-20 talent in Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Isaiah Foster – who reportedly continues to draw attention from European scouts – also moved up to $400,000.