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The holidays have arrived early for the U.S. Women’s National Team schedule. 17-year-old dual national Lily Yohannes has chosen to represent the United States over the Netherlands at international level. It can be considered another victory for the Emma Hayes era with the USWNT, after the young midfielder spent time with the national team shortly before their Olympic gold medal. Yohannes announced her decision on social media on Monday.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the United States and the Netherlands Football Federations for their continued support and patient guidance as I made my decision regarding my international future. Their dedication and encouragement have been invaluable, and I express my sincere thanks to both federations,” Yohannes said in her post.
“After much consideration, I have decided to represent my country, the United States. The US is my home country, my birthplace and where my extended family lives. These strong connections have driven me to honor my roots and proudly serve the US. Football I am excited and eager to continue my work and earn my spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team.”
Who is Lily Yohannes
The teenager signed a contract with the Dutch club AFC Ajax at the age of 15. She was born in the United States, moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was ten and started training at the club at the age of thirteen. A talented prospect, she made history when she became the youngest player to ever start in a UEFA Women’s Champions. Competitive competition at age 16 and is the youngest American to do so. She currently has two goals and one assist in six games with Ajax.
Despite being eligible to play for both national teams, Yohannes had only recently applied for Dutch citizenship in 2024, and Dutch head coach Andries Jonker said Yohannes still not eligible to play for the Netherlands in October. USWNT head coach Hayes has shown patience and patience when asked about the program’s position with Yohannes. The timing appears to be paying off as the teenager can now be part of the national team’s build towards the 2027-2028 international cycle.
Where will she play?
Yohannes was called up to USNWT training camps for the 2024 friendlies ahead of the Paris Olympics. Hayes selected several young players for evaluation before announcing her official Olympic roster. The midfielder made her debut and scored her first ever international goal against South Korea in just 15 minutes of play.
She covers a lot of ground as a possessive, passing, defensive midfielder and performs at a level of composure that is particularly evident in aged veterans of the game. Her connectivity is an asset to teammates around her, and she has the ability to create, assist or generate her own shot on goal.
While the USWNT midfield continues to undergo its own evolution and struggle for consistency after Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis, current players Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle are veterans who will have to manage their minutes differently. Could Yohannes be a definitive answer in the number 8 role?
Sam Coffey has emerged as the latest, almost irreplaceable face, a deep-lying defensive No. 6 in the middle third, alongside Horan and Lavelle. Meanwhile, the coaching staff is evaluating various options for rotating positions in different formations, with Emily Sonnett, Korbin Albert, Ashley Sanchez, Jaedyn Shaw, Catarina Macario and Hal Hershfelt all among players who have been in midfield since the 2019/20 cycle.
Wherever Yohannes plays, her decision makes one thing clearer: the options are much better now that Yohannes is officially in the mix.
Look ahead
The USWNT ends the calendar year with a series of friendlies in Europe. Hayes and her team will play England on November 30 and end 2024 against the Netherlands on December 3. The timing is almost perfect for a new performance by Yohannes, with the young talent already playing football in Europe.