The midfielder is at the heart of an international battle as he looks to prove himself in MLS.
Is a future England midfielder currently developing in MLS? Could a kid from Arlington, Massachusetts someday line up next to Jude Bellingham in the Three Lions midfield?
Meet Noel Buck, the midfield star who could go from New England to…. well, England. Buck is currently a rising star with the New England Revolution, one who finds himself at the center of a potential recruiting battle.
At the moment, he's tied to England, having played for the Three Lions youth teams. He's still eligible for the U.S., though, so Gregg Berhalter and U.S. Soccer don't have reason to lose all hope just yet.
Where will Buck end up? It's too soon to tell, but the Revs star certainly has the potential to go far whichever country he plays for on the international level.
Getty ImagesWhat he's done
Raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, Buck has been a rising star within the Revs Academy since joining back in 2017. He'd shined for the club's reserves before signing his homegrown deal in January 2022 and it's all been up from there.
He scored his first goal that September to become the second youngest scorer in team history, but his real breakout came in 2023. At just 18, Buck featured in 32 total matches for the Revs, establishing himself as an integral member of the squad despite his youth.
His international future came into focus last September, though. Buck earned his first call-up to England's U-19s, having admitted that England had shown him more attention than U.S. Soccer. The son of a British father and an American mother, Buck is still eligible to represent the U.S. and Wales, but, as of now, England has his allegiance as he moves forward for club and country.
AdvertisementWhy he's here
If you're looking for a prototypical modern midfielder, it's Buck. He can contribute from a variety of positions and in a variety of roles, as many midfielders are asked to do in the modern game.
Buck is capable of playing as a six, eight or even out wide due to his technical ability. At 5'11", he also has a solid frame that will fill out even more as he gets older. He can also pop up with a goal or two as well as evidenced by his three goals last season, including this stunner:
Getty ImagesWho he reminds us of
Buck's father is a massive, massive Chelsea fan, so it's no surprise who the midfielder idolized all throughout his youth. Buck was raised on a steady diet of Frank Lampard highlights, and it's easy to see the influence the Blues legend had on his game.
These days, Buck also looks at another former Chelsea midfielder: Mason Mount. Like Mount, Buck is a midfielder who can make his mark in the attacking end, but is also capable of being a No. 8 if the system calls for it.
Can he reach the level of Mount or Lampard? It's way too soon to say, but you can certainly see those influences in his game.
What's next
Buck has earned interest from the Premier League, with those rumors beginning to fly after his run with the England U-19s. Tottenham have been among the clubs interested, but it's a safe assumption that clubs all over England are watching.
First, though, Buck will need to break back into the Revs XI. He's started just four matches so far this season under new coach Caleb Porter, who hasn't used the teenager as much as his predecessors. Can Buck earn his trust? It's a big storyline to watch, for sure.
If he regains that starting spot, it'll show plenty about Buck's character and development. Plenty on both side of the pond will be watching on as Buck looks to take another leap forward in 2024.