CHICAGO — Chicago State men's soccer announced Monday that Niall Reid-Stephen, a Barbados youth prodigy, has signed a grant-in-aid agreement to join the program.
Reid-Stephen has competed at every level for his home country of Barbados. On Thursday, the 19-year-old made his Senior National Team starting debut, securing the role in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Panama.
"Niall is a special player, and I'm thrilled to have him coming here to ignite this program," head men's soccer coach Trevor Banks said. "He's had an exciting youth career, and I believe all of his tools will translate to our level with ease."
Previously, the Bridgetown, Barbados native played for The University of the West Indies, making over 20 appearances for the Blackbirds. During the 2018-19 season, Reid-Stephen netted 19 goals.
At age 16, Reid-Stephen was first called up to the Barbados Football Association's elite squad. Two years later, in March 2019, he debuted for the Barbados Senior National Team.
His rapid rise through the ranks of the Barbados National Team has earned Reid-Stephen Barbados Young Player of the Year honor.
"Coach [Russell] Latapy (Barbados Senior National Team Head Coach) and Coach [Fabian] Massiah (Head Coach at St. Leonard's Boys' Secondary School) have both done a great job developing and preparing Niall for the next step in his career," Banks said. "My staff and I are looking forward to working with Niall."
Reid-Stephen plans to join Chicago State this fall, as the program launches its second season back on the pitch since the late 1980s.
"I chose Chicago State because of the opportunity," Reid-Stephen said. "As Coach Banks likes to say, I will not only get a good education, but I'll also be in a professionally-driven environment. I had a few schools that showed interest, but after my mom and I met with Coach Banks, the plan he presented for me, and the direction in which the program at Chicago State is going, I felt at home. I'm looking forward to starting this program with Coach Banks and the rest of the team.
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