Following FC Dallas Alumni Abroad: New Year, New Goals

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 June, July & August

Weston McKennie

After enjoying his best individual season with Juventus last year, Weston McKennie spent the summer competing in the newly-expanded Club World Cup. McKennie featured in all four of Juve's matches, culminating with a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Following the brief summer break, Juventus began its 2025-26 Serie A campaign with back-to-back wins over Parma and Genoa. McKennie, however, is fighting to earn back his starting spot having been used as a late substitute in both opening matches. Internationally, McKennie was one of a handful of senior players not called into the USMNT September camp as head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes he and his staff already know what McKennie and co. bring to the group. Still, McKennie will want to begin making an impact with his club side as soon as possible to help guarantee a place in next year's World Cup squad.

Alex Zendejas

Alex Zendejas has maintained his starting position on the right wing for Club América through the offseason. The 27-year-old scored in América's Apertura opener to earn a 1-1 draw with FC Juárez on July 11 and has played almost every minute of the following six games. Zendejas also featured heavily during América's short-lived Leagues Cup campaign, starting two of the club's three group stage games while providing an assist in a 3-3 draw against Minnesota United. Still, it wasn't enough as América was eliminated before the knockout rounds. That disappointment hasn't affected their league campaign, though, as Zendejas and América occupy second place in the standings with five wins and two draws.

Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi is finally back on the field for PSV Eindhoven having missed the first half of 2025 with a knee injury. The 22-year-old made his return during preseason and scored twice in a 3-1 win over SV Elversberg. It was also the first time Pepi wore his new #9 jersey, having been given the traditional striker's number ahead of the new season. Since he's still not fully fit after the long injury layoff, Pepi missed out on PSV's opening two league matches but has recently made his return to competitive soccer as a substitute in each of the last two games. Similar to McKennie, Pepi was left off the USMNT September roster to allow him to return to full fitness with his club side.

Tanner Tessmann

After spending much of last year as a super sub for Lyon in France's top division, Tanner Tessmann has earned a starting place in the midfield to begin the new campaign. The Alabama native has started as the defensive mid in Lyon's three opening games, helping the club to three consecutive shutout wins. The hot start means that Lyon shares the top spot in Ligue 1 with reigning European Champions Paris Saint-Germain, an impressive feat for a team that finished in sixth last season. Tessmann and Lyon will look to continue their form after the international break with matches against Rennes, Angers and Lille to close out September.

Chris Richards

Chris Richards faces a tall task to live up to last year's standards having helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, the club's first-ever major trophy. Still, Richards and Palace have registered the perfect start to the 2025-26 campaign with a victory in the FA Community Shield over Liverpool in penalties after a 2-2 draw. They've also enjoyed a solid beginning to their Premier League Campaign with draws to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest followed by a resounding 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Most importantly, Richards has kept his place in the Starting XI having started in central defense in all five games so far.

Bryan Reynolds

Despite transfer speculation over a move to the Bundesliga, Bryan Reynolds remains with KVC Westerlo in Belgium for a third consecutive season. Once again, the Fort Worth native will serve as Westerlo's first-choice right back and has already racked up over 400 minutes across the club's opening five games. If Reynolds can keep his place and improve upon last season's tally of six goal contributions from right back, there's likely to be even more transfer speculation come next summer.

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.