From the moment he arrived in 2020, Lutz Pfannenstiel has emphasized just how crucial St. Louis CITY SC’s academy program will be to the club’s long-term success. In fact, two years ago, the CITY sporting director predicted that there were already players in the academy pipeline who would suit up for St. Louis during its inaugural season in Major League Soccer.
Indeed, Miguel Perez made his boss look prophetic.
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Perez, who only turned 18 years old on April 28, forced his way into CITY’s plans during the preseason, and has earned a valuable supporting role as the regular season has unfolded. In Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup, he scored his first professional goal. And though he may be young, Perez has proven he can hang with the big boys. At the same time, he’s sketched the blueprint for all other CITY academy players to follow.
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Entering this week, Perez has started four of the eight games in which he’s appeared across all competitions, providing St. Louis head coach Bradley Carnell with depth he can trust in the midfield. Perez was a bit of an unknown commodity when the club began scouting for its initial academy squad several years ago. His journey took him from the Pattonville High School varsity squad to the Missouri Olympic Development Program to local club team JB Marine. Perez wasn’t even on CITY’s radar when staffers first set out to identify talent for the academy program. In a serendipitous moment two years ago, Pfannenstiel was preparing to scout a different match when he happened to catch the end of a game in which Perez was playing. From that moment, Pfannenstiel knew Perez was the type of player CITY needed in its system.
The youngster quickly demonstrated that he was up for the challenge, scoring the first goal in CITY academy history in 2021. Last year, Perez split time with both the academy squad and St. Louis CITY2, starting two of the seven matches in which he appeared for the latter. He’s been involved with the first team since Day 1 in 2023, flying with the club to Florida for preseason training and earning a role alongside players much more seasoned than he. Perez’s midfield partner, Indiana Vassilev, speaks highly of his ability and potential. “Nothing fazes that kid,” Vassilev says. “Like, nothing.”
As much as the club might have been inclined to move slowly with Perez, he’s eagerly accepted the assignments thrown his way. After starting the year as a go-to substitute, Perez has seized a starting role at the base of the midfield in each of the past three matches.
“We know that Miggy is a young guy and he needs these experiences,” Carnell says. “Any judgment of Miggy—we know it’s not going to be a perfect game, but he’s combative. He’s feisty. We want him to play freely and not overthink things.”
There have been times this season where Perez has looked like the best player on the pitch, but committing to academy players comes with the understanding that there will be ups and downs along the way. Right now, though, Perez looks the part of an MLS regular. It’s also not out of the question that he could hear his name called in the coming days when U.S. Soccer sets its roster for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“That would be a fairytale, if you just look at Miggy’s career path over the last year and the last three months,” Carnell says. “It’s a credit to Miggy. He’s a humble guy, he just does his work. He talks on the field—he doesn’t talk much off the field—and he gets straight to business… Right now, Miggy’s doing what Miggy does.”
Big stages certainly await Perez, whose professional career is merely weeks old. For now, he’s a St. Louis kid living out his dreams, while showing his peers just how far hard work and finely-tuned skill can take them.
