My name is Jaden McAlister. I’m 14 years old, and I’m a center back for Kalonji Soccer Academy, a club that competes in MLS Next—the top youth soccer league in the United States. It’s a league where the best of the best in the country go to compete, improve, and get noticed. MLS Next is more than just a competition—it’s a pathway. A pathway to professional clubs, to college scholarships, to Europe, and maybe even the national team. For someone like me who dreams of going pro and playing in Europe, it’s exactly where I need to be.

But let me take you back to where it all began.

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I first kicked a soccer ball in 2017 when I was just 6 years old. That’s when I joined Attack Youth Soccer Club. It was my first team, my first jersey, and my first chance to play real games with real teammates. From the start, I was a center back. Even at that young age, I loved defending. I loved reading the game, putting in tackles, organizing the line—it just felt natural to me.

As I got older, I started developing more as a player. I wasn’t the biggest or the fastest, but I was smart, disciplined, and focused. I learned to use my body and my brain to win duels and stay one step ahead of attackers. I spent six years at Attack Youth, and it laid the foundation for who I am as a player today.

In 2023, I made my first big move.

I left Attack Youth to join United F.C., a club that played in Georgia Soccer, which is one of the top youth soccer platforms in the state. Something changed there. Maybe it was the team, the system, or just a fresh start—but my coaches decided to try me out at striker. At first it felt strange to go from the last man to the first man, but I embraced the challenge.

And that’s when things took off.

Week after week, game after game—I scored. I started to understand the movement, the timing, the feeling of putting the ball in the net. Playing up top gave me a whole new perspective on the game. It helped me grow technically, boosted my confidence, and added another dimension to my game. It was a breakout season for me.

Then came the summer of 2024—everything changed.

I was invited to join Kalonji Soccer Academy, or KSA, in MLS Next. I knew this was my biggest opportunity yet. KSA is one of the top programs in the South, and MLS Next was on a whole different level. The pace, the intensity, the physicality, the tactics—everything was faster and harder. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and I was right.

It took me a few months to adapt. There were moments when I doubted myself, moments when I felt like I wasn’t ready. But I kept going. I trained harder, listened more, stayed focused, and believed in myself.

By the end of the season, I had made my mark.

11 goals. 2 assists.

As a former center back, those numbers meant a lot. It showed that I could step up to a new level, take on a new challenge, and still perform. I proved to myself and to others that I belonged.

Now, heading into the next season, my coach is putting me back at center back. And honestly? I’m ready.

I’ve grown so much—physically, mentally, and technically. I’m not the same center back I was when I was 6 years old. Now, I’m smarter, stronger, more confident, and more experienced. I’ve seen the game from both ends of the pitch. I’ve scored goals, made last-ditch tackles, and led from the back and the front.

My dream is still the same: to play professional soccer and to play in Europe. I’ve looked up to players like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, Christian Pulisic, and Lionel Messi my whole life. I watch how they play, how they carry themselves, how they fight for every game. That’s what I want to be like.