ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Toronto FC’s Jozy Atlidore has long established himself as the go-to No. 9 for United States men’s national team. When he isn’t battling injury, Altidore is the preferred USMNT striker, followed by Columbus Crew SC product Gyasi Zardes under new head coach Gregg Berhalter. But thanks to a whirlwind year, 19-year-old Josh Sargent may just throw his name into the race.
“For me personally, going into it, there are a lot of older guys and I don’t know how much playing time, if any, that I will get. I just have to go in there and make the most of being around these guys and learn as much as I can,” Sargent said. “As a team, we are just now building up, and I think it will prove to a lot of fans that we have really good potential.”
On May 27, Sargent trained in Berhalter’s mixed camp of U-23 talent and senior national team players in front of one of the greatest forwards in US history: Landon Donovan.
“It is cool to have Landon here, and he is watching over us,” Sargent said. “He is giving me little tips here and there.”
Sargent currently plays for Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga . He inked a new, long-term contract with the club in February, which was only the latest of several milestones over the last year.
“It has gone by pretty fast, to be honest,” Sargent said. “But everything has gone very smoothly and it has been a nice transition from team to team.”
I am very excited to extend my career with @werderbremen ! Bremen has continued to make me feel at home. I am looking forward to working hard for many years to come for the club and our fans! 💚🦁 #werder pic.twitter.com/m1PcRMesJQ
— Josh Sargent (@joshsargent) February 26, 2019
Sargent started 2017 helping the U-17 national team qualify for the World Cup before jetting off to South Korea as the youngest player on the U-20 World Cup roster. He dominated the competition for the US, recording four goals and earning the Silver Boot.
Sargent then made his way to India to captain the U-17s to a World Cup quarterfinal finish. That November, Sargent received his initial first team call-up. Although he did not play, Sargent became the first USMNT player to appear on a U-17, U-20 and senior team roster in the same calendar year.
In 2018, Sargent inked his first deal with Werder Bremen, where he had to prove himself with the second team before earning his first Bundesliga start in December of the same year. In a dream debut, Sargent scored in the 76th minute with his first touch.
“I’ve been extremely impressed with how quickly Josh has come on the scene and established himself,” Donovan said. “It’s not easy for a young player to make their way through the system that quickly, and he has passed every test every step of the way.”
Sargent is checking all of the boxes, and doing it quickly for club and country. Sargent’s four goals in the U-20 World Cup ties Altidore, Eddie Johnson and Taylor Twellman for the US all-time high in that tournament.
“I do see some similarities between Josh and myself as it pertains to the paths we took/are taking,” Donovan said. “However, he is much further along at this point than I was. He is consistently training and getting minutes with the first team, which is a remarkable accomplishment for a player of his age.”
Sargent is a true No. 9 and quickly becoming a proven goal scorer. He has two goals in his six caps with the national team, the first coming almost exactly a year before this camp.
“It feels like it has been three months, to be honest,” Sargent said. “I guess, being in Germany, it has gone by super fast, my first season. It is hard to believe it has been a year already.”
Sargent’s journey with the first-team continues Wednesday when the USMNT hosts Jamaica in an international friendly at Audi Field.