Following FC Dallas Alumni Abroad: International Prestige

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 September through November, 2025

Weston McKennie

Weston McKennie has yet to register a goal contribution for Juventus this season but has nonetheless been a crucial piece in Luciano Spalletti's team. The Little Elm, Texas native has featured in all but one of the Old Lady's games this season, totaling 18 appearances and 1,111 minutes to begin the 2025/26 campaign (all competitions). Internationally, McKennie hasn't been involved with the U.S. Men's National Team as much as usual, making just two appearances since the team's fourth-place finish in the Concacaf Nations League in the Spring. McKennie's absence, per head coach Mauricio Pochettino, is more down to the coaching staff's desire to evaluate lesser-known players in the talent pool rather than McKennie own performances for club or country. When the USMNT's 2026 World Cup squad is announced next year, we can still expect to see McKennie's name.

Alex Zendejas

Alex Zendejas enjoyed a prolific September for Mexican giants Club América. The tricky winger scored four goals and added two assists over a 26-day span for fourth-place América before being sidelined with a muscle issue. The injury was minor, forcing Zendejas to miss just three games before returning to the field with a substitute appearance against Toluca on Nov. 8. Zendejas has recently flourished for the USMNT as well. The 27-year-old scored his second international goal during the September window, converting a fantastic left-footed volley to open the scoring in a 2-0 win over Japan. Due to his muscle injury, however, Zendejas hasn't been able to build off the momentum and missed out on the USMNT's last four matches.

Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi is slowly finding form after a long term knee injury delayed his start to the 2025/26 season. The El Paso native has mainly been used as a super sub for PSV Eindhoven and has logged just 311 minutes and three goals in the Eredivisie so far. Instead, Pepi has made his mark in the UEFA Champions League, scoring two goals and adding an assist in just three outings. The 22-year-old both scored and assisted in a 6-2 win over Napoli in October before scoring a crucial 93rd-minute equalizer against Olympiacos at the start of November. Pepi's recent club form earned him a return to the USMNT with a call-up to the November camp, his first since last year's Nations League quarterfinals. Still, Pepi's lack of minutes and sharpness was evident as he logged just 15 minutes as a substitute in the USA's 2-1 win over Paraguay and was left on the bench for the 5-1 victory against Uruguay.

Tanner Tessmann

Tanner Tessmann is arguably enjoying the best form of his career. The Alabama native is a regular starter for Lyon in Ligue 1, helping them to seventh place after 12 games as well as a strong start to their Europe League campaign with three wins from four. But Tessmann's biggest impact has been on the international stage. Having been on the fringes of the senior U.S. national team for the last few years, Tessmann has staked his claim with strong performances over the last two international windows. The 24-year-old featured in all four games (two starts) and scored his first USMNT goal in a 5-1 win over Uruguay. If Tessmann can maintain his form and stay in Pochettino's good graces, he could be in line for a place in the U.S.'s World Cup squad next summer.

Chris Richards

Chris Richards continues to be a mainstay in the Starting XI for Crystal Palace. Another Alabama native, Richards has started and played all 90 minutes in every single Premier League game to start 2025/26, helping Palace reach 10th place with the third-best defensive record in the division. Richards' workload has been such that the USMNT staff decided to give him some time off during the November international window, allowing him to rest for two weeks before returning to Premier League action. But don't fear, as long as Richards remains healthy, he'll certainly one of the first names in Pochettino's starting lineup come World Cup time.

Bryan Reynolds

As he has been for nearly three years now, Reynolds remains the first-choice right back for KVC Westerlo in Belgium's top division. The Fort Worth native has started all 14 league games and also went 90 minutes in Westerlo's Croky Cup defeat to Beerschot VA at the end of October. If Reynolds maintains his form, it won't be long until he makes the jump to a stronger league, as was rumored over the summer when Bundesliga teams were allegedly interested in the 24-year-old fullback.

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.

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 where he helped lead the club to its first major trophy: the 2025 FA Cup. 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 13^th 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.