Count Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes among those who consider 17-year-old midfielder Gianluca Busio well ahead of the curve.
This was plain to see throughout 2019 as Busio finished the year with three goals in 26 competitive appearances, landing a nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year. The Sporting KC Academy product and North Carolina native notably became the youngest player in MLS history to score in consecutive matches, doing so in three straight games last spring as a 16-year-old.
Sporting signed Busio to a Homegrown Player contract in 2017, roughly a year after he had joined the Sporting KC Academy.