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Imagn Images-Rob Gray
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now in the rear-view mirror and the focus shifting to the 2030 cycle, the USMNT will hope to see its most talented young players given the best opportunity to succeed and grow over the coming years.
Nobody seems primed for more immediate growth in that regard than 19-year-old Zavier Gozo, who has broken out in a big way at Real Salt Lake during the current Major League Soccer season.
It now appears that Gozo could be on course not just for European football, but may even be on his way to the world's most visible stage. According to reports by Tom Bogert of The Athletic and Ryan Tolmich of Goal.com, Gozo is on the brink of a $15 million transfer to Premier League club Crystal Palace, where USMNT standout Chris Richards currently plays.
Led by new head coach Pierre Sage, Palace are preparing for a second consecutive season with European football, having qualified for the 2025/26 Europa League after winning the UEFA Conference League crown last season.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the rise of Zavier Gozo over the last 18 months, a peek into how he could fit at Crystal Palace, and what his USMNT prospects could be in the near future.
MORE: Youngest players in MLS history
Who is Zavier Gozo?
Born in Utah in 2007, Zavier Gozo is a winger for MLS club Real Salt Lake.
He signed with the club's academy in 2021 as a 13-year-old and penned his first professional contract with the club's MLS Next Pro side, Real Monarchs, the following year. On the fast track, Gozo made his first-team debut in 2023, appearing in an October league match against the LA Galaxy at just 16 years old.
Gozo would feature in one MLS game in 2024 before breaking out in 2025, logging over 1,800 minutes across 25 appearances, scoring four goals and assisting three more. Then, in 2026, he exploded onto the scene, firing in six goals and four assists through the team's first 15 league games, prompting a very late but very sizable push for him to be included on the USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite never having appeared in senior national team camp prior.
The 19-year-old has, however, been involved throughout the youth international levels, appearing for the U.S. U-15, U-16, U-19, U-20, and U-23 sides previously. He was part of the U-20 team that finished runners-up at the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, falling to Mexico in extra-time at the final hurdle, a heartbreaking defeat which saw El Tri score goals in second-half stoppage time of both regulation and the additional period. He was also on the U.S. U-20 World Cup team that reached the quarterfinals before a 3-1 defeat to eventual winners Morocco ended their stay.
How good is Zavier Gozo?
Already showing extremely high potential, Zavier Gozo is a true USMNT standout in the making, with six goals and four assists so far this season for Real Salt Lake.
With 16 appearances in the 2026 MLS season, Gozo ranks ninth in the league for successful dribbles and third in the league for carries that end in a shot, despite the presence of fellow U.S. international Diego Luna in the RSL attack, also commanding significant volume.
While Gozo is excellent at creating for himself in the final third, he still needs to work on creating opportunities for teammates. He is 14th in the league in total shots with 53, but has only half as many shot assists, ranking him outside the top 30, and his 30 attempted crosses put him at less than half the league leader in that category.
Gozo has received numerous accolades for his recent rise to prominence. Most notably, he was named to the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, making him just the second teenager to be selected to any of the last five All-Star Games.
MORE: USMNT schedule for September and October international break
Why are Crystal Palace buying Zavier Gozo?
It's tough to see the immediate fit for Zavier Gozo at Crystal Palace, but there could be a way in. The biggest problem at Palace is their wealth of right-sided attackers compared to a complete lack of left wingers, but Gozo being a natural right winger does little to ease that burden.
At Palace, Ismaila Sarr is the standout attacker on the right and likely blocks any hope of Gozo making any kind of immediate jump to regular first-team minutes on his natural side. In addition, they have out-of-form Brennan Johnson and wild card Yeremy Pino as other right-sided forwards, and 21-year-old Romain Esse could play into the mix as well.
On the left, there is shockingly little for Palace to lean on. Johnson occasionally flipped to the left last season, but it was mostly Pino who filled that role. Evan Guessand and Christantus Uche were both on loan at Palace last year but have departed.
Obviously, despite his talent, this remains a huge step up for the American teenager. It will be interesting to see if Palace try to fit Gozo into the first team straight away or if they look for a loan to get him more minutes elsewhere in Europe this season before hoping to find a place in future years.
MORE: Why retaining Mauricio Pochettino was right call for the United States
When will Zavier Gozo debut for the USMNT?
It's widely anticipated that Zavier Gozo will be called into USMNT camp for the upcoming September and October international windows later this year.
With Mauricio Pochettino back at the helm, and the U.S. federation now looking ahead towards the 2030 World Cup cycle, there is likely to be a push to include both fringe talent and young players in the USMNT mix over the next few months, with the goal of building depth and giving new faces a chance to impress.
Regardless of where he is playing, Gozo is a perfect fit for this opportunity. At 19 years old, he will be well known to the federation as a regular in the U.S. youth setup, and his excellence in MLS plus European transfer links will make him a strong candidate for a regular role in the future of the USMNT.
The pre-World Cup buzz to include him in the summer roster was always asking a bit much, but expect Gozo to be given multiple opportunities to shine on the national stage in the coming months as Mauricio Pochettino eyes next year's CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup competitions.
Kyle Bonn
Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.
Source: Sporting News
