Profile
John
Brooks
- Position Defender
- Number 6
- Date of Birth Jan 28 1993
- Hometown Berlin, Germany
- Height 6' 3"
- Club Hoffenheim (Germany)
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Stories
John
A towering center back, John Brooks possesses all the physical tools and calm demeanor to dominate a match from his position on the back line. With both U.S. and German citizenship, Brooks was called in to Youth National Team camps by both the United States and Germany, making appearances for the U.S. at the U-20 and U-23 level while also doing so for Germany’s U-19 side.
His choice to represent the United States rang loud and clear when he headed home the game-winning goal in the 2-1 win against Ghana in the USA’s opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Having set the record fee for a U.S. defender with his $20.4M transfer to Wolfsburg in 2017, Brooks will be looked to as a key veteran in the U.S. team moving towards the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Every player dreams of scoring for their country in a FIFA World Cup, but John Brooks took it to another level in 2014. Two days before the USA’s opening match against Ghana, Brooks dreamed that he would score in a game-winning header in the 80th minute of the game. With just four caps to his name going into the tournament, Brooks began the match on the bench but replaced injured defender Matt Besler at halftime. With the USA tied 1-1 late, Brooks rose above the crowd to head home Graham Zusi’s corner kick, giving the MNT its 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. Stunned by the dream becoming reality, Brooks was picked up by some of the teammates he’d told about the premonition days earlier, and helped the USA close out its tournament-opening win.
A product of the Hertha Berlin Academy, Brooks made more than 100 appearances for the club before moving across Germany to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2017. Rated as one of the top center backs in the Bundesliga, Brooks commanded a then-American record $20.4 million transfer fee, which has only since been surpassed by Christian Pulisic’s $73 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea.
Born to a German mother and American serviceman from Chicago, both sides of the center backs heritage are represented via the tattoos on his elbows. On his right is a map of Berlin, his hometown. On his left is a map of Illinois, his father’s home state.
Every player dreams of scoring for their country in a FIFA World Cup, but John Brooks took it to another level in 2014. Two days before the USA’s opening match against Ghana, Brooks dreamed that he would score in a game-winning header in the 80th minute of the game. With just four caps to his name going into the tournament, Brooks began the match on the bench but replaced injured defender Matt Besler at halftime. With the USA tied 1-1 late, Brooks rose above the crowd to head home Graham Zusi’s corner kick, giving the MNT its 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. Stunned by the dream becoming reality, Brooks was picked up by some of the teammates he’d told about the premonition days earlier, and helped the USA close out its tournament-opening win.
A product of the Hertha Berlin Academy, Brooks made more than 100 appearances for the club before moving across Germany to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2017. Rated as one of the top center backs in the Bundesliga, Brooks commanded a then-American record $20.4 million transfer fee, which has only since been surpassed by Christian Pulisic’s $73 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea.
Born to a German mother and American serviceman from Chicago, both sides of the center backs heritage are represented via the tattoos on his elbows. On his right is a map of Berlin, his hometown. On his left is a map of Illinois, his father’s home state.
