Allan Oyirwoth Latest Example of Revs Youth Development Pipeline

"But we feel like at this club, our best way to have success is through the development of our young players. We’re always going to be a club that prioritizes that.”

Photo By Alex Roldan

In a relatively short period of time, the New England Revolution have developed itself into a club centered around youth development and Ugandan midfielder Allan Oyirwoth is the latest example.

New England’s ability to turn raw young talent into top-tier players dates back to having the likes of Diego Fagundez performing well while still a teenager but the Revs made it onto the global transfer scene by developing MLS SuperDraft selection and dazzling winger Tajon Buchanan to one of Canada’s best players.

Buchanan racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 67 games across all competitions for New England. He earned himself a transfer to Belgian side Club Brugge and now plays for La Liga side Villarreal.

Since Buchanan, New England shipped off Esmir Bajraktarevic to PSV and Peyton Miller looks like the next youngster who will earn a European transfer. Then waiting in the wings is Oyirwoth.

Head coach Caleb Porter discussed the importance of youth development on Thursday.

“It’s really important,” he said. “Obviously, you saw last year, with Esmir [Bajraktarević]. Giving him a run of games and him having such a great year for us, it led to a move for him. Obviously, that helps. Anytime we can sell a player, we reap the benefits in our roster with the proceeds of those sales. It helps that we continue to be a club that is scouted, that teams look at. We’re viewed as a club that develops young players, and it’s no different with a guy like Allan [Oyirwoth], Peyton [Miller], or Ilay [Feingold]. We have a bunch more coming through as well. So, it’s exciting and it’s important. But let me be clear, we want to win and results matter. But we feel like at this club, our best way to have success is through the development of our young players. We’re always going to be a club that prioritizes that.”

The 18-year-old played for Amor Young Heroes, Pakwach Super Eagles, MYDA, Mawokota, and Club Gomba in Uganda and claimed MVP honors at the 2023 Uganda National Football Championship. Soon after — in 2024 — Oyirwoth moved to England to train for six months at the Brooke House College and Academy, an esteemed program with links to several English Premier League clubs.

After being acquired by New England in the lead-up to the 2025 MLS season, Oyirowth has spent most of 2025 with Revs II. In eight MLS NEXT Pro appearances with Revolution II, he has scored one goal but has shown impressive ability on the ball as well as great passing ability.

In May, Oyirwoth made his first-team debut in U.S. Open Cup play and he earned his first MLS minutes in New England’s loss to Chicago.

“It has been really amazing to see [Oyirwoth’s] growth in a short amount of time,” Porter said of Oyirwoth. “He’s 18 years old. We’ve brought him along the right way. We’ve used Revs II to get him minutes, to get him confident, to get him in form. We’ve played him in a couple of [U.S.] Open Cup games as well. And then last game [at Chicago] he got his debut with 20 minutes. I thought he did very well there. He has taken a good progression. With Matt Polster out again this week, we’re going to give him his debut start. He’s ready for it and I couldn’t be more excited for him to get that opportunity.”

The moment was a long time coming for Oyirwoth and he is excited to make his first MLS start against Toronto FC.

“I was very, very happy,” Oyirwoth said. “It was an opportunity that I waited for, for almost eight months. So, it has been so long. Now finally, I’ve made my debut. It was really unbelievable and I was so happy and impressed. My family too, they were happy. Everyone was very happy for me.

“To me, as a kid, it’s really unbelievable,” the midfielder added. “I’ve worked hard for it. I’ve been working in training. The 20 minutes they gave me in the last game [at Chicago], I really tried my best. I went and watched the [highlights] and I think I did my best and did really well. So, giving me the opportunity to start in a match, in a MLS game, that’s really something unbelievable to me and I appreciate it a lot. I think I have to work hard in that game, so I can continue getting more minutes.”

It will be interesting to see how Oyirwoth performs against Toronto. It will be a chance for him to show he belongs with the first team and show if he is ready to be an everyday MLS starter. If that is the case, New England will have a strong midfield with the likes of Alhassan Yusuf, Matt Polster, and Oyirowth to choose from heading into the 2025 offseason.

With the Revs on the outside looking in of the playoff positions, it is pleasing to see youngsters such as Oyirwoth get opportunities to play significant minutes. It gives fans hope that the current situation the team finds itself in will be temporary, as New England continues to develop talented players who make the future of the club look a lot brighter than the outlook currently is.