LA Galaxy released USMNT star Matthew Hoppe in 2015
The 20-year-old played with the Los Angeles Galaxy academy during the 2014/15 campaign, before being released by the team.
Last season, Matthew Hoppe had a breakout season in his first year with Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga and he signed with La Liga side Mallorca on the last day of the summer transfer window. The United States international made his debut on matchday 5 against Villarreal in a 0-0 draw.
In that game, he came on in the 60th minute replacing Fer Niño, but was unable to help his team claim the three points. Hoppe made his debut as a starter last weekend in Mallorca’s 6-1 loss to Real Madrid. The United States international was replaced in the 59th minute at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Hoppe could’ve played in MLS
The 20-year-old made his professional debut in the Bundesliga with Schalke 04, but the story could’ve been different if the Los Angeles Galaxy had made a different decision. Hoppe started his youth career in the Galaxy academy, but after the end of the 2014/15 campaign he was released by the team.
The USMNT striker moved on to play for the Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona and that helped him sign with Schalke 04 II in June 2019. The rest is history, the American player scored a hat-trick on his debut with the Bundesliga side on 9 January 2021. He became the first United States player to score three goals in Germany’s top-flight and help his team end a 30-game winless streak.