New York City FC’s first splash in the youth soccer world came with an olive branch.

Last month, the future MLS franchise, which will join the league in 2015, announced affiliations with eight youth soccer clubs from the five NYC boroughs.

“Met Oval is thrilled to be part of this affiliation,” Met Oval Sporting Director Jeff Saunders told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “We feel like we have a lot to offer them as well as a lot that they offer us... it is a synergistic relationship.”

Along with Met Oval, NYCFC is also entering affiliations with Blau-Weiss Gottschee, Downtown United Soccer Club, Manhattan Soccer Club, New York Soccer Club, South Bronx United, Staten Island United, and World Class FC.

“It’s been in the works for a while,” Saunders said. “I believe NYCFC is looking to capitalize on the mistakes of some previous franchises – building a working relationship, attracting the top kids in conjuncture with some of the top local clubs. We think NYCFC will do the best job in the region.”

Met Oval, which recently went through a transformation, was one of the early targets for the new MLS franchise due to the youth club’s Center of Excellence as well as possessing its own facility.

“It started eight months ago when Claudio [Reyna] was starting to put the pieces together how he wanted to structure the club,” Saunders said. “They were very diligent. They understood what was happening. It took awhile then they reached out to a number of clubs. They started talking and then did a lot of site visits. Then they narrowed down to the clubs that they wanted to use as affiliates. They aggregated that group together this winter/spring.”

Reyna is, arguably, the greatest player to emerge from the region, which seemingly gives him the perfect position to bring these clubs together to help represent the new franchise from the city.

“Through our affiliations with each of these organizations, we will play an integral role in the development of the area’s most talented youth,” Reyna said in a press release. “After previously serving as Youth Technical Director for U.S. Soccer, I’m passionate about youth development and know firsthand what a critical role these programs can play in local communities, and in improving and advancing the level of coaching and talent across the country.”

Met Oval is realistic about its role in the partnership, as the club knows what its charged with and where it needs to help the new MLS franchise.

“Met Oval is now becoming extremely competent in developing the U8-U14 age groups,” Saunders said. “We know that is what we do well. The goal is to pass off our best talent to NYCFC.”

Saunders believes this affiliation will mark the start of a new era for the region, which he said has not been tapping into its potential in terms of players’ development.

“We haven’t produced enough players from the Metropolitan area of late,” Saunders said. “Claudio’s class was the last one – the star generation. Since then, there hasn’t been a huge influx or huge output. Long and short, I’m confident that NYCFC will start to change that. Parents and people are speaking about it – there is a real pathway to MLS and to the EPL.”

NYCFC possesses the ability to dangle the shiny carrot of Manchester City, the club’s owner, in front of the truly exceptional talents in the Academy. The great lure of the clubs across the Atlantic has not dulled much in recent years – especially in the eyes of impressionable teenagers.

Behind Reyna, NYCFC already has legitimacy with the local clubs. Now, it’s out to prove it can develop another great generation from the City’s player pool thanks to the help of its eight new friends.