Is the German Bundesliga the Newest Breeding Ground for Young American Players?

For years, many people have seen Major League Soccer as the main league to develop America's top young talent.

Some of the top stars for the United States national team have starred in MLS before heading overseas—like Tim Howard with the MetroStars, Clint Dempsey in New England. Some other top players like Landon Donovan have stayed to play in the league for their whole career.

But now, with former German international Jurgen Klinsmann taking the job as manager of the United States team, the development of players in Germany with clubs from the Bundesliga is becoming a trend.

In the past, the only players playing in the Bundesliga seen on the American roster were Steve Cherundolo of Hannover and Michael Bradley when he played with Borussia Monchengladbach. But that is sure to change with Klinsmann looking to Germany more and more with every squad selection for young players.

Now, with everyone in the lineup healthy, the roster could boast six German based players. The only two veterans of the six are Jermaine Jones at Schalke, who switched allegiances from Germany to the United States, and Cherundolo at Hannover.

The other four are young players.

Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Danny Williams and the newest American call-up Terrence Boyd all play in Germany and all have seen success with the national team in the past year.

Chandler, who is in his second full season playing with Nurnberg, has found his spot in the American team at left back before picking up an injury. Johnson, a starter with Hoffenheim, was playing at centre-back but now after his performance against Italy, he may have a permanent spot on the left side of the field as well for Klinsmann.

As for the two young attackers, Williams and Boyd, they are both fairly new to the squad but both have bright futures. Williams, who is Johnson's teammate at Hoffenheim, started on the right wing against Italy and was barely heard from because he was playing a more defensive role for most of the second half.

Boyd was brought on as a substitute late in the game and has impressed with Borussia Dortmund's reserve squad this season.

Also on the horizon for American players in Germany are U-23 team members Alfredo Morales of Hertha Berlin, Jared Jeffrey of Mainz and the highly-touted Joe Gyau, who is now at Hoffenheim along with Johnson and WIlliams.

Gone are the days where development of American soccer talent come only from the United States. The Bundesliga is slowly overtaking MLS in the category of having the top young American talent.

And with the German influence of Klinsmann as the United States' manager, do not be shocked if more young American players move to Germany and develop in the youth squads of Bundesliga clubs instead of those of MLS clubs.