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It has been quite the year for the New York Red Bulls. After finishing just seventh in the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls stormed all the way to the final, eliminating the higher-seeded Columbus Crew in two games, city rivals New York City FC (2-0) and then Orlando City (1-0) until they were finally stopped by the LA Galaxy (2-1). Although he didn’t feature, 16-year-old wonderkid Julian Hall was still in the middle of it all. 

Although he didn’t play, Hall was in the matchday squad for every single playoff game and experienced the highs and lows of a playoff run. “Everyone was really counting us out, and the playoff run was incredible,” Hall said in an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt. I am really proud of the boys. We fought hard in every single game, and we got to the Final, and we worked really hard as well.” 

Even without the playoff experience and the lost final. Hall feels positive about the 2024 season. It was a good experience,” Hall said. “My first full season, just getting to know the guys, getting the experience, but yeah, it was great. It was a good, long ride with the boys, and we are ready for next season.” After making history by becoming the youngest player in New York Red Bulls’ history when he made his debut in 2023 aged 15 years, six months, and seven days in a 1-0 defeat to the Chicago Fire, Hall also became the youngest goalscorer in club history this season when he scored in a 2-2 draw against CF Montréal in June. 

Hall: Role model Lewandowski – Learning from Choupo-Moting

This season, Hall has moved back and forth between the MLS Next Pro side and the senior team. While Hall has managed just two goals and one assist in 11 MLS games, his output has been better in MLS Next Pro, where he scored six goals and one assist in 16 games. 

What sort of player is Hall? “I would say I am very energetic, passionate player,” Hall said. “I just try to do anything for the team and anything to help us win.” And what about his strengths on the pitch? “I would say I am a versatile player, agile, and able to provide whatever the team needs, whether it is an attacking option or something else.” But Hall also knows he must keep working hard to address some of his weaknesses. “Probably just around the box, you know, finishing, holding up the ball, you know,” Hall said when asked what he needs to improve about his play. “Nobody is perfect, and there are many things I can work on to get better.” 

Indeed, Hall wants to become a complete striker, just like his role model. Born in New York, Hall, who has represented the US at the youth level, is of Polish descent, and it isn’t surprising that he names Robert Lewandowski as his role model. “He is someone I have looked up to now and in the past.” One player who knows what it is like to play with Lewandowski is former Bayern Munich striker Eric-Maxime Choupo-Moting—the very same Choupo-Moting who is set to join the New York Red Bulls ahead of the 2025 season. 

Julian Hall wants to “learn” from Emil Forsberg – Next step in Leipzig?

Although the focus within the Red Bull organization is for the New York franchise to develop talent, there is a sense that a group of veterans is important to see young and talented players grow on and off the pitch. It is for that reason that Emil Forsberg joined ahead of the 2024 season. “He is a great role model, and I have learned a lot of things from him,” Hall said about the Swede. “You know, he is a quality player; just everything he does helps the team, and I really want to keep learning from him for the years to come.” But while Forsberg is a playmaker, Choupo would be a striker of a similar mold to Hall. “I mean, any player with experience is someone I can learn from,” Hall said when asked about the Choupo-Moting rumors. “So, that would be great to learn directly from the source.”

Both Forsberg and Choupo-Moting have extensive experience of playing in Europe. Experience they can pass on to Hall. “Yeah, I mean, Europe is definitely a goal of mine for the future, but right now, my focus is with the New York Red Bulls, and I’m happy to be here right now,” Hall said when asked about potentially heading to Europe. Perhaps the forward could follow in the footsteps of Tyler Adams and Caden Clark, who have moved from the New York Red Bulls to RB Leipzig. 

Indeed, Adams and Clark are the only two academy players to move directly from the New York Red Bulls to RB Leipzig. Furthermore, neither is still with the Leipzig club. While Adams moved on to the Premier League, Clark struggled in Europe. After stints in Denmark with Vendsyssel FF and back in MLS with Minnesota United, the playmaker regained his form with CF Montréal this season. However, the hope within the Red Bull organization is that Hall could be the third player to head over to Leipzig.  I mean, it would be an excellent opportunity for me, but as long as I’m working here, that is my main focus,” Hall said when confronted with the fact that the RB Leipzig bosses are monitoring his situation.

That’s certainly the right attitude. Although Hall has a European passport that would allow him to move to Europe right away, there is a sense that the forward still needs more seasoning in MLS before heading to a European top league. Indeed, playing with Forsberg and Choupo-Moting will be an incredible school as the Red Bulls will attempt to go one step further in the 2025 season, hopefully with Hall finally contributing in the MLS Cup Playoffs as well.  

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2007 and 2008. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.