From Lake Grove to the Bundesliga and Borussia Monchengladbach, having never once played for NYCFC in MLS. He will remain with the MLS side for the 2020 season, then in Jan. 2021, pop the pond. Joe stated "I was very excited when I heard the news about the transfer to Borussia Monchengladbach. As a kid you always want to play in Europe and in one of the best leagues in the world. I couldn't be happier. It's always the same for us, to finish first in the league and win MLS Cup." Joe is the premier player out of the NYCFC academy sold to a major European Club. This is an unheard of event, a player sold by one team for another at such a high price, 7 figures, yet never playing a league game for the selling team! This initial transfer fee is the most in history for a 16 year old in MLS history, much less for one who has yet to become an MLS player. The add ons, dependant on the future would have this figure eleveate to one of the highest fees ever paid out by a club from the continent for an MLS player. Should he be sold in the future, NYCFC will then collect even more on him. NYCFC Sporting DIrector Claudio Reyna, his son is already in Germany stated "It's very exciting for Joe to move to the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and play in one of the best leagues in the world. He is still 16 years old, so he has a lot of growth and development still to come. He works extremley hard, is competitive, strives to get bettter and is a winner. I personally want to recognize the entire Academy for the work they've done in developing Joe. It's extremely exciting for the Club and we are happy for him."
2018 saw Scally ink a Homegrown Contract in March as the 2nd player out of their Academy to do so. He was then the 2nd youngest to Freddy Adu to sign a pro deal with MLS. He made his first game as a pro in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2018, for David Villa, it was a 4th round game facing the Red Bulls. With Joe, the Academy won a great deal of hardware, the 2017 Generation adidas Cup, 2018 US Soccer Development Academy National Champiionship & for the U-19's and their terrific showing in the 2019 Dallas Cup. He was a cog for the U-17 USNT in their qualification for the U-17 World Cup just completed in Brazil. Starting all 3 games, assisting on the goal just 3 minutes in facing Senegal. Part of the trio on the first team out of the Academy with James Sands and Justin Haak (he was kind enough to speak with us at the mini pitch dedication in Flushing Meadow Corona Park), these 3 were on the Generation adidas Cup winning team and 2018 USSDA title takers.
Please see the Facebok of Soccer Long Island Magazine for the announcement video of this historic happening.