FRISCO, Texas (January 21, 2022) – FC Dallas has loaned Homegrown defender Justin Che to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga for the remainder of the 2022 season until June 2023 with an option to buy. FC Dallas also extended Che’s contract through the 2025 season with club option for the 2026 season. Per team policy, additional terms will not be disclosed.
Che, 18, signed as FC Dallas’ 30th Homegrown in club history on Oct. 2, 2020. He appeared in 15 matches, including 12 starts, for FC Dallas during the 2021 season and recorded three assists. He made his professional debut on July 25, 2020 with North Texas Soccer Club, FC Dallas’ USL League One affiliate, in the 2-1 season-opening win against Forward Madison FC. Che was named to the 2020 USL League One All-League First Team and was nominated for the league’s Young Player of the Year award following a breakout season with North Texas SC.
Che returns to Germany for the second time following a short-term loan with FC Bayern Munich II in 2021. Che was the second FC Dallas Homegrown behind Chris Richards to join FC Bayern on loan since the Elite Player Development partnership was formed in 2018. Richards is currently on loan from Bayern Munich at 1899 Hoffenheim.
Che joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2009 and scored 18 goals in 84 United States Soccer Development Academy appearances since 2016. Che is the seventh youngest player to sign with FC Dallas at 16 years and 319 days old, behind Bryan Reynolds, Dante Sealy, Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas and Paxton Pomykal.
Che earned two U.S. Men’s National Team camp call ups in 2021 but has yet to make his senior debut. He was also called up to the U-20 Men’s National Team for the inaugural Revelations Cup in November 2021, where he started and played the full 90 minutes in all three matches against Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
