According to the club’s website, 18 year-old Claudio Vaughn has signed on with Italian Serie C side Virtus Francavilla Calcio, on a one-year deal with the possibility of two more.
Vaughn is a young American who has thus far flown under US Soccer’s radar, and is earning his stripes as a professional and Yank Abroad in Italy. He will spend the upcoming season with the Apulia team in Italy’s third level, competing in the league’s Southern Group.
The Seattle native, who also holds an Italian passport through his mother, spent time in the US youth soccer Olympic Development Program before moving to Spain to take part in Barcelona’s TOVO Academy, and then to Italy.
Now training with his new team, Francavilla just announced that they will play a friendly against Serie A side US Lecce. They finished sixth place in their division last season, and entered the promotion playoff, only to be elimited in the second round.
Yanks Abroad will keep track of the youngster this season in our weekly Italian recaps, and will also bring our readers an interview with Claudio after the Lecce game. Stay tuned.