Rubio Rubin is one of the best prospects in the United States youth system and, at 18 years old, is ready to take the next step -- Europe.
The striker signed a pre-contract with FC Utrecht last year and while he could not officially join the team until he turned 18 on March 1, he spent most of the last season training with the team. He played with the U-19 team, the reserve team and even with the first team a couple times. But on July 1, his contract will be officially registered and he will be eligible to play in matches, upping the stakes as the American pushed for first team minutes.
Until then, Rubin is with the U.S. U-20's at the Dallas Cup, where he is trying to make sure he is ready for his season with Utrecht. The expectation state side is not that he will star for Utrecht, but that, eventually, Utrecht will just be a launching pad for a long European career in some of the continent's biggest leagues. Rubin carries that kind of promise, and it starts for real in July.