Former Union youth signs with Germany’s Werder Bremen

A South Jersey youth soccer star who spent a season with the Philadelphia Union Academy is heading to Germany.

Isaiah Young announced on social media Saturday that he’s signed with Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga.

The 18-year-old starred at Players Development Academy after leaving the Union Academy, and returned to the North Jersey club this fall after backing out of his commitment to play college soccer at Wake Forest. He was named the East Player of the Year in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2016.

A Berlin, N.J. native and U.S. youth international, Young led the Union U16 team in goals in their first season in the USSDA with 13 back in 2013-14.

He had nine goals in just seven appearances this season for PDA after helping lead them to the USSDA semifinals last summer, a run that included a 3-1 win over his former club in a quarterfinal match in Chester.

Werder Bremen finished last season in 13th in the Bundesliga and are currently 15th in the table.

Young becomes the third player from the region to sign with a Bundesliga club. Hershey, Pa. native Christian Pulisic plays for Borussia Dortmund, and Lancaster, Pa., native Russell Canouse is on loan with 2. Bundesliga club VfL Bochum from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, where he made one appearance last season.