FC Dallas and its Academy have produced some of the U.S.’s top players in recent years, many of whom have left the comforts of home to ply their trade in other soccer leagues. Although they’re no longer with FC Dallas, they’ll always be a part of its history. So, why not check in to see how they’re doing? This is Following FC Dallas Alumni Abroad, presented by MoneyGram.
As of now, we're following six FC Dallas Academy products playing in top leagues abroad: Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Bryan Reynolds, Chris Richards, Tanner Tessmann and Alex Zendejas. Each month, we’ll check in to see how they’re faring with their new clubs.
Note, you can read about all these players’ FC Dallas careers at the bottom of this article.
FC Dallas Alumni Abroad in December/January: Kicking off the New Year
Weston McKennie
As per usual, Weston Mckennie has featured all over the field for club team Juventus over the last two months. Since December, the 26-year-old has played center mid (his natural spot), left back, right back and right wing. But his versatility hasn't hurt his production. McKennie has registered two goals and an assist across four competitions (Serie A, Champions League, Super Cup and Italian Cup), including an eye-catching volley against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City (assisted by USA teammate Tim Weah). Although in his fifth season with Juventus, McKennie has rarely been more important to the Italian giants.
Alex Zendejas
Alex Zendejas had an excellent end to 2024 by helping Club América win El Torneo Apertura (the first tournament of Mexico's two-tournament season). The 26-year-old winger scored a goal and added two assists across the two-leg Apertura final against Monterrey on Dec. 12 and 15, and has carried that form into the Clausura season. In his first game of 2025, Zendejas scored a brace and registered an assist in América's 4-1 win over Santos Laguna on Jan. 25. In all, Zendejas has 12 goal involvements in 20 games at the club level this season.
Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi mainly served as a super sub for PSV Eindhoven over the last two months. In his one start in the Dutch league on Dec. 6, the 22-year-old scored a goal and added an assist in PSV's 6-1 demolition of FC Twente. Since then, though, Pepi has only played 70 minutes across four league games, registering one assist. Despite a quiet start to January, Pepi made headlines toward the end of the month in PSV's final UCL group game against Liverpool. Pepi started and contributed a goal and an assist in an eventual 3-2 win over one of Europe's elite sides. Unfortunately, Pepi departed the game with an apparent knee injury that will sideline him a few months. On the bright side, PSV and Pepi agreed a new long-term contract through 2030.
Tanner Tessmann
Tanner Tessmann is still fighting for a place in the Starting XI since signing for Olympique Lyon in Ligue 1 last summer. The midfielder featured in three Ligue 1 games (out of a possible seven) over the last two months for a combined 90 minutes. He also played nine minutes off the bench in the Europa League Group Stage in a 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Tessmann saw more minutes in the Coupe de France (French Cup), starting a Fifth-Round game against Entente Feignies Aulnoye FC, helping Lyon to a 2-1 win over 90 minutes. The end of January brought a welcome reward for Tessmann as he was named U.S. Soccer's Young Male Player of the Year after a campaign that saw him captain the U.S. Olympic squad in Paris and make his first start for the senior national team.
Chris Richards
Chris Richards has steadily won back his starting spot for Crystal Palace in the Premier League in recent months. The center back began December on the bench but has started Palace's last six games in a row, winning dour of them. He also started in Palace's opening FA Cup game, earning a shutout in a 1-0 win over Stockport on Jan. 12.
Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds continues to be a locked-in starter for Westerlo as they battle relegation from Belgium's top division. Reynolds started seven of Westerlo's eight games in December and January, only missing one due to yellow card accumulation. The defender is also contributing on the attacking side of things, serving up two three assists over his last three games. Still, it wasn't enough to prevent Westerlo losing all three. All in all, Reynolds has played 22 times this season and registered two goals and four assists from his right back position.
FC Dallas Roots
You’ve read about how these players are doing now. Here’s how they got their starts with FC Dallas.
Weston McKennie is probably FC Dallas’ most well-known export, despite never playing for its first team. Although born in Washington state, McKennie grew up in Little Elm, Texas and developed in the FCD Academy from 2009 to 2016. After turning 18, McKennie signed for German club Schalke 04 where he’d go on to play four seasons before joining 36-time Italian champions Juventus in 2020. Apart from a half-season loan to Leeds United in the Premier League, McKennie has been with Juve for four seasons, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. The 26-year-old has been a mainstay for the U.S. Men’s National Team since 2017, earning 49 caps and scoring 11 goals.
Ricardo Pepi joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2016 from its El Paso affiliate club in his hometown. He signed his first pro contract with FCD’s second team, North Texas SC, in late 2018 as its first-ever player. Pepi famously scored a hat trick on his pro debut and went on to sign a Homegrown contract with FCD midway through 2019. Pepi enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2021, becoming an MLS All-Star and winning MLS Young Player of the Year after a 12-goal campaign. He subsequently signed for German club FC Augsburg in FCD’s record outgoing transfer. After one season in Germany, Pepi went on loan to Dutch side FC Groningen where he scored 12 goals and earned a permanent transfer to PSV Eindhoven, one of the Netherland’s biggest clubs. Pepi debuted for the USMNT in 2021 and has been nominated for US Soccer's Male Player of the Year twice.
Chris Richards never played for FC Dallas’ first team, similar to McKennie (although Richards did sign a contract with FCD). An Alabama native, Richards joined the FCD Academy from Texans SC Houston in 2017 and signed a Homegrown contract in 2018. He was then loaned from FCD to FC Bayern Munich as part of the clubs’ now-defunct player development partnership, before joining the German giants permanently a year later. Richards played five games in the Bundesliga for Bayern before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan for two consecutive seasons. In 2022, Richards departed Bayern for the Premier League with Crystal Palace. Richards has been a mainstay for the USMNT since his debut in 2020.
Bryan Reynolds joined the FCD youth system as a 12-year-old and signed a Homegrown contract in late 2016, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player at 15 years and 147 days old. In 2019, Reynolds helped North Texas SC win the inaugural USL League Title alongside a handful of FCD Academy products. Reynolds enjoyed a breakout 2020 campaign with FC Dallas, which earned him a transfer to Italian club AS Roma the following year. Seeking more game time, Reynolds went on loan to the Belgian Pro League, first with K.V. Kortrijk and then to KVC Westerlo – where he signed permanently in 2023. Reynolds has played seven times for the United States and scored one goal.
Tanner Tessmann moved from Alabama to join the FC Dallas Academy in 2016 at 15 years old. At 17, Tessmann helped reserve side North Texas SC win the 2019 USL League One title. Although originally committing to play soccer at Clemson, Tessmann decided to go pro at 18 and signed a Homegrown contract in 2020. After one-and-a-half seasons with Dallas, Tessmann secured a transfer to Italy with Venezia where he played three seasons before transferring to Olympique Lyon in France's top division.
Alex Zendejas signed a Homegrown contract with FC Dallas after joining its Academy via its El Paso affiliate club, a path Ricardo Pepi would follow a few years later. Zendejas signed as the club’s 13th Homegrown in 2012 and went on to make eight appearances. He subsequently joined Mexico’s Chivas Guadalajara permanently before being sent on loan to Zacatepec. In 2020, Zendejas transferred to Necaxa where he enjoyed two successful years before being recruited by Club América, one of the continent’s biggest clubs. A dual national, Zendejas originally represented Mexico internationally before filing a one-time switch to play for the United States.
