skip navigation

FC Tulsa signs USYNT international Nathan Worth to first pro deal

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 03/20/23, 2:00PM EDT

Share

16-year-old joins club having made seven appearances in Championship for Red Bulls II last season on USL Academy contract


FC Tulsa has signed 16-year-old midfielder Nathan Worth, who has previously made seven appearances for U.S. Youth National Teams at the U-15 and U-16 levels and seven appearances in the USL Championship. | Photo courtesy Ivan Pierre Aguirre / El Paso Loco

TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa announced on Monday the club had signed United States Youth National Team standout midfielder Nathan Worth to a multi-year professional contract as the club continues to add prodigious young talent to its squad for the 2023 USL Championship season. At only 16 years and 22 days old, Worth has already been capped seven times in the USMNT youth system. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“Nathan is a young driven player who will come in and increase competition within the team,” said FC Tulsa Head Coach Blair Gavin. “We are all excited to have him here and help aid his development to make a big impact.”

The New Jersey native and product of the New York Red Bulls Academy debuted for the New York Red Bulls II in the USL Championship on June 25 as a USL Academy signing. Worth is currently the 11th-youngest player to have seen action in the Championship, making his debut aged 15 years, 119 days old as he squared off with current FC Tulsa assistant coach Richie Ryan, then playing for El Paso Locomotive FC.

Worth went on to appear seven times for Red Bulls II a year ago, making four starts, while internationally he as has budded into one of the United States’ most promising young prospects. He was capped four times at the U-15 level for the Stars and Stripes during 2022 Friendlies and the Torneo delle Nazioni, captaining the team three times and scoring his first international goal on a direct free kick vs. Portugal on May 1.

In November of 2022, Worth was moved into the United States U-16 roster under the tutelage of former FC Tulsa Head Coach Michael Nsien where he made three appearances in the U-16 Football Federations Cup. Worth contributed to wins over England and Wales and a draw with Spain in his three appearances. Individually, Worth won 70 percent of his duels and completed 80 percent of his passes throughout the competition.

“I’m excited to have the chance to continue playing in the USL Championship and play meaningful games with a team that wants to compete for the playoffs and the USL title,” said Worth. “Playing in front of passionate fan bases across the league elevates the intensity to another level and I’m ready to work hard every day to earn a place in the squad. Blair and Richie use a system that values possessing the ball and playing attractive soccer, which I find exciting. I debuted against Richie and really look forward to learning from someone that has played as a midfielder across the globe in many top leagues.”

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos