One team is making sure to keep the ‘development’ at the forefront of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

It’s the Houston Dynamo, one of the six new clubs added to the academy this season. Thanks to the Dynamo’s MLS affiliation, and an unrelenting philosophy, the Texas club is looking to improve play for the long haul – a creed that underlines the academy itself but often gets muffled at the expense of winning.    

“Our goals are a little different,” said Houston Dynamo Director James Clarkson. “We’re looking to the future and trying to draft players for the first team. So because of that, we have younger players in general who have the potential to go up and play on that level.”

The Dynamo are awfully young, employing plenty of 94s on both their U16 and U18 teams, but that doesn’t mean they’re hurting for talent.

In striker Eric Sanchez, the Dynamo have a promising player. Sanchez just moved to the area at the start of the summer having competed with Mexico’s U15 national squad prior to coming over.

Midfielder Alfredo Gallegos is a special talent who has been invited into the U.S. National U15 camp and also has tons of upside. Sebastien Ibeagha, of the U18s, is a big athlete who can win nearly every ball and has a good pair of feet.

Playing in a very competitive Texas Division, the Dynamo will have to contend with the likes of the Dallas Texans, featuring Zach Barnes, Blake Wise, Connor Doyle and Kyle Emerson; along with FC Dallas’ Ruben Luna.

It will be a stern test, but that’s precisely the point.

A European tour by the club during the preseason put all the players in a good frame of mind to grow and improve. Opponents included the Scotland Rangers, Celtic, Barcelona and Real Madrid in what was a special soccer experience for all the players involved.

“The trip to Europe really was key,” Clarkson said. “It brought the group together. We had some really good matches and showed some improvement. That’s what it’s all about.”