Kobi Henry transfer sets new record for USL Championship

Orange County SC announced on Tuesday that defender Kobi Henry has moved to French club Stade de Reims, setting a record for the largest transfer fee ever for a United Soccer League player.

Henry, who turned 18 in April, is the fourth player to leave OCSC in the last two years as part of its Pathway to Professional model, which has already sent players to first-division teams in Germany, France, Scotland and Sweden. According to ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, the record transfer fee is around $700,000.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for me and my family, a dream come true,” Henry said. “When I came across the country to play for OCSC, I knew that if I put in the work and followed the plan the coaches laid out for me, I would have the opportunity to play in Europe. Playing abroad at the highest level is a great achievement in my journey as a professional soccer player, and I look forward to what the future brings.”

Henry joined OCSC in June 2020 and has made 30 appearances for the team across all competitions, scoring two goals. In his 19 appearances in 2021, he made 60 clearances and 22 interceptions while winning 63% of tackles.

Henry was also one of the first two active USL players, along with former Louisville City FC defender Jonathan Gomez, to earn a callup with the full United States national team in December 2021.

Henry previously spent time in the Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF academies before moving across the country to join OCSC, believing in the club’s pathway for young players.

“Kobi came to Orange County because he and his family strongly believed that we had the model professional pathway and environment for him to accomplish his goal of transferring to Europe,” said Oliver Wyss, OCSC President of Soccer Operations. “A lot more players are looking at the USL as a development [league] because it’s very clear we control the player’s rights 100%, we can sell the player as soon as he’s ready.”

Reims finished 12th in Ligue 1 in the 2021-22 season, having been promoted back to the French first division in 2018, and boasts six Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe de France titles and was twice the runner-up in the European Cup. Reims, which has an emphasis on giving talented young players opportunities, has tracked Henry over the past year and will initially have him in the Pro 2 group to ease his transition into the first team.

“Kobi’s signature is a big step forward for our project,” said Reims’ Sporting Director Pol-Edouard Caillot. “Reims has become one of the most attractive clubs for young players – we are the team where young players get the most playing time in Europe. Kobi will continue to grow and develop his skills in a good environment.”

Henry’s transfer is not just the continuation of a trend for OCSC but for the USL as a whole. Two nominees for the 2021 USL Championship Young Player of the Year award, Jonathan Gomez and Jose Gallegos, moved to first-division clubs in Spain and Denmark, respectively, in the most recent winter transfer window, while the third nominee, Diego Luna, moved to MLS earlier this month.

“Kobi’s move to Ligue 1 shows the platform we have here with talented players that are attracting attention from the best leagues in the world,” said USL Sporting Director Mark Cartwright. “Orange County has a great club structure with the right people in the right positions with the right knowledge in recruitment, coaching and development. All those pieces fit together to create the largest transfer in USL history.”