From Dortmund’s Academy to FC Cincinnati’s Ambitious Project

Some journeys circle the globe before coming home. For Jack Mize, the path wound from the streets of New York to the academy fields of Borussia Dortmund, and now to the buzzing soccer scene of Cincinnati. At just 17, the attacking midfielder has already lived a story that many young players dream about — playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, wearing the U.S. crest abroad, and now returning stateside to continue building his career.

Mize’s story began in the New York Red Bulls Academy, where his quick feet, sharp vision, and natural creativity in midfield separated him from his peers. Those traits caught the eye of Borussia Dortmund, one of the most celebrated development hubs in world football. For Mize, it meant trading home comforts for German precision, a bold move that would test his adaptability as much as his talent.

In Dortmund, he climbed the rungs of their youth system with steady determination. First with the U15s and U16s, then on to the U17s, where he logged 12 appearances, scoring once and adding an assist. More than the numbers, it was the education that mattered: training at tempo, learning positional fluidity, and competing against some of Europe’s brightest teenage prospects.

His rise didn’t go unnoticed by U.S. Soccer. Mize earned call-ups with the U.S. U16 and U17 squads, traveling to international camps in Costa Rica and Spain. Those experiences gave him a dual perspective — the rigor of European academies and the pride of representing his country on the global stage.

Now, after three formative years in Germany, Mize is back in the U.S., signing on with FC Cincinnati’s Academy. He will begin his journey there before moving up to the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side at the start of 2026. Cincinnati also holds the option to sign the young midfielder to a first-team contract, making this both a homecoming and a clear investment in the future.

This move is more than geography — it’s a transition from being one of many young stars abroad to becoming a central piece in an ambitious American project. FC Cincinnati wants to be known not just for winning at the MLS level, but for cultivating the next generation of U.S. internationals. And Jack Mize is arriving at the right time, with the right pedigree.

At 17, he still has years of growth ahead, but the ingredients are there: European academy training, U.S. youth national team experience, and the kind of technical flair that Cincinnati hopes will set him apart in MLS NEXT and beyond. For Mize, the challenge is to channel all those lessons into consistency and leadership, helping elevate the standard for himself and those around him.

From New York beginnings to Dortmund schooling and now Cincinnati ambition, Jack Mize has already traveled far. His return stateside doesn’t feel like an ending — it feels like the launch of the next chapter. And if the first chapters are any clue, it’s a story worth following closely.

Quick Stats Snapshot

• Name: Jack Mize

• Age: 17 (born 2008, New York City)

• Position: Attacking Midfielder

• Youth Clubs: New York Red Bulls Academy, Borussia Dortmund (2019–2024), FC Cincinnati Academy (2025–)

• International: U.S. U16 & U17 call-ups; camps in Costa Rica and Spain

• Cincinnati Pathway: Joining FC Cincinnati Academy (2025); will move to MLS NEXT Pro side in 2026; option for future first-team contract