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Peter Stroud finally gets to play soccer at home.
The youngest of four footballer brothers from Chester, Stroud signed a three-year domestic contract with the Red Bulls. The 5-foot-10-inch, 145-pound midfielder has been with the team at the Hanover training facility since earlier this week. They leave for his IMG Academy in Florida on Monday.
Per MLS policy, terms and conditions have not been announced. However, 2026 and his 2027 options are included.
“I was itching to get out here and play for the Red Bulls,” Stroud, 20, said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey.
“I really wanted it to happen. I’m so excited to finally be here.”
He joins his brother Jared Stroud in Major League Soccer. Having played for Delbarton and Colgate, Jared Stroud began his professional career with the Red Bulls before expanding to Austin FC and now his St. Louis City SC.
Peter Stroud finished runner-up in the MAC Harman Trophy (a prize given to the top college football players) on January 6th. The next day, the Duke midfielder waived the rest of his year of NCAA eligibility and turned pro through his social media outlets.
“Peter has shown many great qualities on and off the field,” Red Bull coach Gerhard Struber said in a statement. “He’s an exciting young talent and we’re really looking forward to having him join our roster.”
The first player to win back-to-back ACC Midfielder of the Year awards, Stroud has six goals and 12 assists in three seasons at Duke. He helped the Blues reboot his Devils football program, growing from his four wins in his freshman year to 13 wins this fall. Duke went undefeated in his regular season for the first time since 1999, and for the first time since 2006 he made the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Stroud said he debated quitting college after his sophomore season, but returned to get closer to completing a degree in political science. He estimates he’s two semesters short of him, and although Duke does not allow distance learning, he said he could return to campus at any time.
Go to:The Red Bulls have won approval for their 81-acre headquarters in Morris County.Click here for the revised plan
Unlike his brothers Jared, Dylan and Will, Peter Stroud never played for Delverton before going to college. Instead, he transitioned from his PDA to Red Bull his academy his team at the age of 11, then West Ham as he played for United’s under-18 and his under-23 teams. went abroad to He made his youth debut for West Ham at the age of 16, in his 1–0 win over Swansea City, and two months later, he qualified for the Premier League Two match.
Stroud also appeared for the U-15 and -17 national teams of the United States.
“I did a lot better than I ever expected,” he said. “I tried the European route when I was younger and that experience made me realize how difficult it is over there. felt like the right place for me, it’s always been my dream.”
Stroud joins Chatham defender John Tolkien as a Morris County native among many homegrown players on the Red Bulls’ preseason roster. Other New Jersey natives are midfielders Daniel Edelman (Warren) and Bent Estrella (Bloomfield) and striker Serge Ngoma (North Plainfield).
Stroud estimates that the commute from Chester to the driving range takes about 30 minutes. All four brothers – Dylan, who performed in Washington and Lee and live in South Orange. Jared; Will, who graduated from Colgate University, spent an eligible extended season at DePaul and also hopes to turn pro. and Peter – We trained together in New Jersey over the winter break. Peter Stroud doesn’t believe his parents kept a Red Bull season ticket after Jared left the club.
“Being a professional athlete is tough,” said Peter Stroud. “It’s good to have a support system here that you can always rely on….I want to end a good, long career. I don’t know where it will take me but this is what I love I want to do it, I want to do it for the rest of my life.”
Jane Havsy is a storyteller for Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, visit subscribe today.
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