Like so many of Jamaica’s top young talent, Junior Flemmings, who has played two seasons for the New York Red Bulls II in the United Soccer League (USL), is looking in the direction of Europe.

He is currently out of contract, but the player says he has a number of offers on the table which are being looked at by himself and his management team. However, at this stage of his career Europe has the greatest appeal to him.

“Currently I am out of contract with the New York Red Bulls, but there are a lot of different clubs interested — teams from within the USL, outside of the USL, and in Europe. so at the moment I am weighing my options, but really and truly, I would love to be in Europe, especially after playing two seasons at the USL level, but so far things are good. It’s the off season now so I am putting in some work,” he stated.

The 21-year-old is looking at Scandinavia as a possible option right now.

“Norway, Sweden, Germany — those platforms are really good.”

He is aware, however, that breaking into the top leagues in those countries is not an easy task.

“It might not be for the first season, but at least that would be like a stepping stone to go the Bundesliga or to go to a premier division. but a lot of teams and clubs have contacted me, so we are basically weighing the options right now, but for sure I would love a good team to play at next season,” the former Jamaica College captain stated.

Flemmings has learnt a lot from his two years in the USL and being a part of the Red Bulls organisation, which he said has contributed a lot to his development as a player.

“It was a great experience for two years, and training with the first team almost every morning and being around the top guys — the elite crop of guys like Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sean Wright-Phillips, who have played in the Champions League — to train with those guys and get the experience is always a pleasure. You learn a lot from them and especially our style of play, the high press, it’s incredible.”

Though almost surely out of the Red Bulls set-up, the forward says returning to play for the first team and lifting the MLS Cup would be a dream.

“I would really want to reach out to them and go back at the MLS level and really represent them to actually win an MLS Cup, but for now I am actually going to move on and further my career elsewhere.”

One of the main reasons for the desire to move, the former Tivoli Gardens player stated, is the number of international players currently on the roster of the New York Red Bulls senior team.

“They offered me a contract, but I am not going to sign back there because I really want to go to the MLS level and it is sort of an international spot problem. Each team is only allowed six international spots on their roster so it’s somewhat of a challenge, but we are in discussion with them, but at the moment, technically I am out of contract, so I am pretty much a free agent for now,” he disclosed.

Flemmings, like a lot of other Jamaican internationals who play in the USA, is currently on the island on vacation since the season ended.

— Dwayne Richards