With the start of club’s third preseason on the horizon, Bethlehem Steel FC announced today the signing forward Brandon Allen. A native of Old Bridge, NJ., the 24-year-old joins Steel FC after spending two seasons with the New York Red Bulls organization where he earned the USL All-League and Rookie of the Year honors in 2016. In 2017, Allen continued his scoring ways with nine goals in 15 appearances with Red Bulls II before going on loan with Minnesota United. The move is pending league and federation approval. 

“It’s hard to find anyone else in the USL that has scored more goals per game over the last few years as Brandon has,” Bethlehem Steel FC Brendan Burke said. “We know he has a nose for goals and proved it in college with an unbelievable scoring record there so we know what we are getting. We don’t play much different from New York but we look forward to teaching him the nuances of our system and seeing if he can grab hold of it and finally break that glass ceiling to MLS that he’s been pushing for the last few years.”

Allen inked his first professional contract with the New York Red Bulls as a homegrown player late in 2015. While he made his Major League Soccer debut as a substitute against Toronto FC on May 28, 2016, Allen spent the majority of the season with Red Bulls II in the USL where he guided the club to the 2016 USL Cup. In route to the championship, Allen led the squad with 15 goals during the regular season and added three more in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. In the USL Cup Final against Swope Park Rangers, Allen turned netted a hat trick to claim USL Cup MVP. For his strong debut season, Allen earned the USL Rookie of the Year and was named to the USL All-League First Team. Last season, Allen tallied nine goals in 15 appearances with Red Bulls II before being loaned to Minnesota United for the remainder of the 2017 season.

Allen prepped at Georgetown University alongside Philadelphia Union defender Keegan Rosenberry, notching a stellar four-year career where he earned 90 starts. During his time with the Hoyas, Allen became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 50 goals while adding 17 assists. Along with his personal accomplishments, Allen guided the school to four NCAA Tournament appearances and four Big East Championships along with an appearance in the 2012 College Cup as a freshman.

Internationally, Allen has represented the United States at the youth levels and earned his first cap with the U-18’s at the Lisbon International Tournament in 2011. He also broke in with the U.S. U-20 national team during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Qualifying in 2013.

Allen joins Steel FC as its first signing ahead of the 2018 season and will look to help the club build upon its first USL Cup Playoffs appearance last year.

TRANSACTION: Bethlehem Steel FC sign forward Brandon Allen on January 8, 2018.

Name: Brandon Allen
Position: Forward
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190
Born: October 8, 1993
Hometown: Old Bridge, New Jersey
Citizenship: United States
Previous Experience: New York Red Bulls (2016-17), New York Red Bulls II (2016-17), Minnesota United (2017)
Acquired: Bethlehem Steel FC sign forward Brandon Allen on January 8, 2018.