Caleb Wiley
Personal information
Full name Caleb Ryan Wiley[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-22) December 22, 2004 (age 19)[1]
Place of birth Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Atlanta United
Number 26
Youth career
2016–2022 Atlanta United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Atlanta United 2 33 (0)
2022– Atlanta United 61 (5)
International career‡
2020 United States U17 3 (0)
2021–2023 United States U20 10 (1)
2023– United States U23 4 (0)
2023– United States 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 25, 2024

Caleb Ryan Wiley (born December 22, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United and the United States national team.[2]

Career

Early career

Wiley joined the Atlanta United academy at the age of 11, just before the professional outfit began their inaugural Major League Soccer season,[3] and was heavily involved with the club up until his debut with Atlanta United 2 in 2020. In 2018, Wiley served as a ball boy as Atlanta defeated the Portland Timbers in the 2018 MLS Cup final.[4]

In July 2020, Wiley made his professional debut with Atlanta's USL Championship affiliate, appearing in a 2–1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.[5]

Professional

On January 18, 2022, Wiley signed a homegrown player contract with Atlanta United.[6][7] In February, he made his MLS debut against Sporting Kansas City, scoring late in Atlanta's 3–1 victory.[8] With the team suffering from a number of injuries, Wiley found himself moving up the depth chart, finishing the 2022 season with 26 league appearances to his name.[9]

In February 2023, Wiley was named amongst American Soccer Now's top 20 young Americans to watch during the 2023 Major League Soccer season.[10] It didn't take Wiley long to live up to those expectations, scoring twice and providing an additional assist in Atlanta's week three victory over Charlotte FC.[11] At 18 years and 79 days of age, he became the fifth-youngest player in league history to contribute to three goals in a single game.[12] As a result of that performance, he was named to the league's Team of the Matchday for week three[13] and was named Player of the Week.[14]

International career

In early 2020, Wiley, alongside Atlanta United Academy teammate Efrain Morales, was called up to the United States U17 squad for a UEFA Development Tournament taking place in England.[15] He made his youth international debut on February 19, 2020, playing the entirety of a 2-1 defeat to Spain.[16] In November 2021, at just 16 years of age, he was called up to the United States U20 roster.[17]

On April 19, 2023 Wiley made his senior national team debut in a 1–1 draw in a friendly against Mexico.[18]

On October 8, Wiley was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played April 6, 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlanta United 2 2020 USL 11 0 — — — 11 0
2021 USL 22 0 — — — 22 0
Total 33 0 — — — 33 0
Atlanta United 2022 MLS 26 1 — — — 26 1
2023 MLS 30 4 1 0 2[a] 0 3[b] 0 36 4
2024 MLS 5 0 — — — 5 0
Total 61 5 1 0 2 0 3 0 67 5
Career total 94 5 1 0 2 0 3 0 100 5
  1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

As of match played January 20, 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2023 1 0
2024 1 0
Total 2 0

References

  1. ^ a b c "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "USA – C. Wiley – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  3. ^ Bagby, Dyana (February 27, 2022). "Homegrown Talent: Atlanta United's Caleb Wiley takes soccer skills from Morningside to Mercedes-Benz". Rough Draft Atlanta. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Sciaretta, Brian (August 24, 2022). "At just 17, Wiley impressing in Atlanta while aiming for big role with the U.S. U-20s". American Soccer Now. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta United II – 11 July 2020 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Atlanta United signs Caleb Wiley to Homegrown Deal | Atlanta United FC".
  7. ^ Roberson, Doug (January 18, 2022). "Atlanta United signs Caleb Wiley to Homegrown deal". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Henry Jr., Larry (February 28, 2022). "Caleb Wiley savors "special moment" in scoring on Atlanta United debut". SBI Soccer. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Bagby, Dyana (November 24, 2022). "Caleb Wiley a bright spot during tough year for Atlanta United". Rough Draft Atlanta. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Sciaretta, Brian (February 17, 2023). "McGlynn, Tolkin, & Wiley top list of 20 Young Americans to watch in 2023 MLS season". American Soccer Now. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Roberson, Doug (March 11, 2023). "Caleb Wiley helps Atlanta United past Charlotte". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "3 - At 18 years 79 days, @ATLUTD's Caleb Wiley (2 goals, 1 assist) is the fifth-youngest player to contribute to three goals in a single match in MLS history. Stripes". Twitter. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Roberson, Doug (March 13, 2023). "Two Atlanta United players on MLS team of the week". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Atlanta United's Caleb Wiley named Player of the Matchday". Major League Soccer. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Two Academy Players to represent US U-17s to kick off 2020-21 cycle". atlutd.com. February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "Spain U17 vs. United States U17 – 19 February 2020 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  17. ^ Gowder, Grey (November 5, 2021). "Atlanta United Academy prospect Caleb Wiley called into USYNT U-20 camp". Dirty South Soccer. SB Nation. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  18. ^ "United States vs Mexico match summary". MLSSoccer.com. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Twenty-three Players Called to U.s. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix". ussoccer.com. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.

External links

Atlanta United FC – current squad
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