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Interview with USMNT prospect
The transfer generated major headlines in the United States. A 16-year-old US men’s national team eligible player has signed a professional contract with Barcelona in March. Born in Denver, Colorado, Adrian Gill has spent the last few years in Catalonia after his parents moved there for work and has been part of the Barça academy for four years. Ahead of signing his professional contract, Gill spoke to Transfermarkt about his move to Barcelona, his development, and his ambition to represent the United States at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
“My parents moved my family to Spain for work when I was ten years old,” Gill said when asked how a talented American ended up in Catalonia. There Gill played at a local club in Barcelona called Cornella. It was at Cornella that Gill was scouted by the scouts of Barça’s famous La Masia academy. “They offered me a one-month trial, and then I was signed pretty quickly.”
Once at Barcelona, Gill kept impressing, and the Blaugrana secured extended his contract all the way through the Juvenil stage. “It is all very exciting,” Gill said. The family, however, quickly realized that they needed help to navigate the complicated world of international transfers and it was at that stage that Remington Ellis Management and CAA Base came in to facilitate the contract negotiations. “They have been so helpful throughout the process.
Adrian Gill compared to Andres Iniesta: A “well-rounded player”
The 16-year-old, a central midfielder, has been compared to former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta. Sport (quoted via Forbes) described him as a “complete footballer” and an offensive midfielder who is multi-faceted from a “technical, physical and tactical point of view.”
Gill did shy away from the Iniesta comparison but described himself as a central midfielder, who can play in the box-to-box role and as a number 10. “I consider myself a well-rounded player as I am comfortable receiving the ball anywhere on the pitch,” Gill said. “I like to create goal-scoring opportunities for the team and pride myself in my defensive work rate and leadership ability.”
Skills that have been sharpened over the last three years at the Blaugrana. “It is amazing to train with such high-level players and learn from the staff and their wealth of experience,” Gill said. “I don’t believe there are many environments in the world that are more competitive and intense as it is here, and I love every aspect of it. I’ve had to become so mentally tough competing with the best players in the world day in, day out. There’s always someone coming for my spot, I love the pressure.”
Adrian Gill (l.) in action for Barcelona’s youth team. The midfielder wears the number 10 and has been compared to Iniesta
It is also fascinating listening to Gill about the daily life in Barça’s La Masia academy. Players are picked up by a shuttle to La Masia before training in the afternoon. The players then train in the gym before training for an hour and a half on the pitch. Training then is followed by stretching and rehab before a shuttle takes the players back home.
Gill on La Masia: “Will work hard to get promoted to the next level”
The time at the academy becomes more intense once players graduate to the Juvenil category. “Next year, it becomes full-time at the Juvenil categories,” Gill said. “I’ll have breakfast at La Masia, train, then do my schoolwork at the facility. It will be great to be around the facility full time, and I will work hard to get promoted to the next level.
Step-by-step, Gill, who admits that he has not had much interaction with the first team yet, hopes to make his way up to the first team. “My ambition is to break into the first team at Barça and play for the United States at the 2026 World Cup,” Gill said. That tournament is, of course, hosted by the United States together with Canada and Mexico. Gill knows that he will have to put in the work and is fully committed to playing with the US youth men’s teams, and his short-term goal is to make the U17 World Cup squad and break into the Barça B squad.”
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But what about Barça’s plans with Gill? “I have played once with Juvenil B this season,” Gill said when asked whether he knows what the club plans with the 16-year-old. “I assume I’ll stay with Cadet A for the rest of the season. I’ll stay with Cadet A before being promoted full time to the Juvenil B side next season.” The trajectory is clear; however, step by step, Gill is making his way towards fulfilling his dream of playing for the first team and the US men’s national team.
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