Schalke interested in signing U.S. U-18 midfielder Nicholas Taitague

It looks like another young American will be joining Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04. According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Schalke is intent on signing 17-year-old American attacking midfielder Nicholas Taitague.

Taitague is on trial with Schalke and the club’s director of youth development, Oliver Ruhnert, says Taitague will offered a contract upon turning 18 in February. Taitague is currently prevented from joining Schalke, due to FIFA rules which generally prohibit international transfers of players under 18.

In April, Taitague joined the NASL’s Carolina Railhawks on an amateur contract. He is considered a promising midfielder despite only making a few appearances for the Railhawks. Taitague has four goals in four appearances for the U-18 USMNT, per Transfermarkt.

If he joins Schalke as planned, then he would be the third U.S. youth international in less than a year to sign with Die Königsblauen. Taitague would join former Cosmos forward Haji Wright and FC Dallas Academy midfielder Weston McKennie in the Schalke ranks.