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ESPN staff 8y

U.S. forward Jordan Morris to turn pro, train with Werder Bremen

United States forward Jordan Morris will join Werder Bremen next week during their winter training camp, the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday.

Later in the day, Stanford announced Morris would turn professional after helping the Cardinal win the NCAA College Cup last month, ending any doubt he could return for his senior year. 

The 21-year-old has already earned seven international caps for the U.S. and coach Jurgen Klinsmann has said Morris "obviously has to" go pro.

Morris wrote on Twitter that turning pro was a "tough decision."

Morris has spent time with the Seattle Sounders' youth programs and is eligible to join the team on a lucrative homegrown deal, thereby skipping the MLS SuperDraft, and Goal.com reported this week that he was "in advanced negotiations" with the Sounders for his first pro contract.

But the striker will first explore his options in Europe as he joins Werder Bremen for training on Monday in Belek, Turkey.

"It's an opportunity for us to get to know the player better. Nothing more and nothing less," club CEO Thomas Eichin said in a statement.

Morris' U.S. teammate Aron Johannsson is already a member of the Bremen squad but has been out since September with a hip injury.

Morris is a key figure on the U.S. under-23 team that faces Colombia in March for a chance to qualify for the Olympics, and he's also expected to join the senior national team for training camp later this month.

Also on Tuesday, United States youth international Christian Pulisic was promoted to first team training at Borussia Dortmund.

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