From Liberia to D.C. to Belgium, Moses Nyeman's next stop on world tour is Salt Lake City
From Liberia to D.C. to Belgium, Moses Nyeman's next stop on world tour is Salt Lake City
The 19-year-old former D.C. United homegrown midfielder marks back-to-back years of Real Salt Lake tapping co-owner David Blitzer's ownership network with a loan from SK Beveren.
HERRIMAN, Utah — In a perfect world, Moses Nyeman would still be playing in Europe, even starting for Belgium side SK Beveren in the Belgian A2.
That was, of course, the dream when Nyeman left his homegrown roots at D.C. United and traveled to Europe, eager to begin a new chapter abroad to a professional career that started at just 15 years old with a permanent transfer to the second-division club in Belgium.
But plans aren’t always made perfect, and dreams often left unfulfilled in an imperfect world. And as Nyeman considered a return to Major League Soccer, he and his agent had an idea for a perfect landing spot — one that happened to be part of the growing David Blitzer Football Group (trademark-pending) — at Real Salt Lake.
“From what I saw, the club has a history of signing young players and playing homegrowns,” Nyeman said Monday after training. “I would say that’s promising for a young player. I don’t know the coach very well, but I’ve heard a lot of really good things about him and what I’ve seen so far is he’s lived up to his standards.”
Nyeman is the third player to arrive at RSL from the Blitzer group, following loan deals by Sergio Cordova (FC Augsburg) and Chris Kablan (SK Beveren). But this one may feel a little bit different.
The two-way midfielder who moved to the United States from his native Liberia in West Africa when he was 10 years old before becoming D.C. United’s second-youngest homegrown signing in club history (the youngest, RSL fans know well, was acclaimed North American soccer star Freddy Adu) is on a year-long loan from Beveren, with an option to purchase outright, Real Salt Lake announced Monday afternoon.
And after impressing in preseason training camp, including during the club’s most recent week-long stay in Arizona, that wouldn’t be a bad conclusion for both sides — if it gets to that.
There’s a long way to go until those decisions will be made. For now, Nyeman is just excited to have a home and regular minutes after spending four seasons with Loudoun United (USL Championship) and D.C. from 2019-22.
During that time, he also scored three goals for the U.S. Under-16 and Under-17 national teams while maintaining senior eligibility for his homeland. He had one goal in 15 appearances for Loudon in 2019, then set the standard for youth development at D.C. United by October 2019.
“Moses has shown well during this preseason in Utah, and has assimilated well to the group dynamic the last several weeks,” Real Salt Lake general manager Elliot Fall said. “We believe the glut of MLS experience gained at such a young age at D.C. United and his brief time with Beveren, as well as his life’s journey from Liberia to the U.S. youth national team system, have brought him to a point where he can contribute here.”
Last August, Nyeman signed via permanent transfer with SK Beveren, but has not made an appearance with the Belgian side — opening the door for a return to the United States and MLS with Real Salt Lake.
Nyeman’s path to Salt Lake has been unique, beginning with his birth in Monrovia to immigrating to the United States at 10 years old with his mother and his younger brother, 16.
Raising her sons as a single mother, Nyeman’s mom was a key force in the progression of her older son’s soccer career.
“When I first came here, I started with school soccer and from there went to D.C. United,” Nyeman explained. “It was all a roller coaster, especially with a single mom; she was doing everything for me. When I became pro, I still couldn’t drive — I had to go the training center around 6 a.m. and stay there until 3-5 when she got off work. She’s done a lot for me, and I think her from the bottom of my heart.”
Nyeman has goals and dreams with RSL and Real Monarchs, just as he did with D.C. United and SK Beveren. But any outside pressure place on him — even when he was just 15 — pale in comparison to the pressure he puts on his own shoulders.
“If there was any pressure, it came from myself,” he said. “More than likely, I would be the one pushing too hard on myself; I like to have a standard to hold myself up to, and sometimes I can be too hard on myself.
“Pressure has been fine. With everything I do, there is always going to be touch expectations as a professional athlete.”
Nyeman’s transition to RSL has gone smoothly, especially with a number of new players trying to earn a spot during preseason.
As far as the transition to Salt Lake goes, though? That couldn’t be much better, he is quick to say.
“The people here are very welcoming, and I feel like my transition has been pretty smooth,” Nyeman said. “Better than I expected it to be.”
RSL FAST FACTS
#33 – Moses Nyeman
Pronunciation: NYE - mann
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Weight: 152
Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia
Age: 19
Nationality: American / Liberian
How Acquired: Signed via loan from SK Beveren (Belgium)