(Photo by Phoenix Rising FC)
Phoenix Rising signed 16-year-old defender and Arizona native Niall Dunn on Thursday.
The signing marks the youngest player in PRFC history to sign a professional contract with the club.
He had previously signed a contract with the USL Academy at Phoenix in April, the seventh junior player to have signed such a contract with Rising.
Dunn is also the third Valley-born player to join Phoenix Rising this season after Arizona FC signing left-back Ryan Flood and Real Salt Lake loaning Tate Schmitt out of the MLS.
Coincidentally, all three defense attorneys who are following in the footsteps of manager and Tucson native Rick Schantz, who was a defense attorney during his playing days, are all.
“I’ve always believed that Arizona was full of talented players. It was a hidden gem for several reasons, but number one was that we never had a top-class professional club, ”Schantz said in a press release. “There is a long list of players who have played for the national or professional teams and have played very well.
“With players being recognized at a much earlier age and possibly playing professionally here in their hometown, I hope we can create more dreams and goals for young children. That’s what it’s all about. You have to strive to do something. We hope that playing for Phoenix Rising will be one of them. “
Dunn can play a variety of positions – including as a number 6 midfielder or right-back – but his best spot is the center-back.
The 16-year-old played with Phoenix Rising against the MLS and USL League One teams during the preseason.
In both the games against Colorado Rapids in Tucson and against FC Tucson at Wild Horse Pass, the defender was able to assert himself and was a considerable defensive presence on the pitch for PRFC.
“Because I trained with the pro team every day and got games with the academy, I was able to gain confidence and feel like I belonged,” Dunn said in the press release.
“Towards the end of the preseason, after playing a few games against MLS teams, everyone accepted me more. That’s when I knew this was the place for me. That I can adapt to the professional level. “
From a distance, you would not know that he had only got his driver’s license in March just because of his footballing skills.
Dunn will turn 17 in October and currently weighs six feet and 150 pounds.
And similar to midfielder Arturo Rodriguez’s training program this season, Schantz has already made sure that the teenager goes to the gym to test himself physically at a professional level as he continues to grow into his body.
“As soon as he signed the academy contract, he sat down with our strength and conditioning trainer Sean Buckley,” said Schantz.
“Niall works hard to be the best he can be. He learns from guys like Solo [Asante], Joe [Farrell] and [Kevon] Lambert, listening to the coaches and watching films – everything he can do to become a professional. “
Dunn not only hopes to play with the first team in 2021, but also hopes to crack the US men’s national team at the age of 21 when the US, Mexico and Canada host the 2026 World Cup.
“This is only the second step,” said Schantz. “He knows he has a long way to go, but I hope to see him compete for the US national team one day.”
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