York9 FC announced Monday that it has signed young German striker Julian Ulbricht, and have agreed an option on him through the end of the 2022 Canadian Premier League campaign.
Ulbricht, 21, is a product of Hamburger SV’s highly-touted youth academy, and has spent the past three seasons with Hamburger’s second team in the Regionalliga Nord (Germany’s fourth tier) where he scored six goals in 21 appearances in 2019-20 – including a run of four goals in five matches.
Ulbricht is poised to join York9 in early 2021. In the interim, he will play for 1. FC Phönix Lübeck, another side in Regionalliga Nord.
“He had other offers in Europe but he wants to come to Canada and play in the CPL,” York9 managing consultant Angus McNab said in a media release.
“He’s been through one of the top academy systems in the world at Hamburg so to sign a player from such an illustrious club and for him to then get the opportunity to continue playing in the same league for Lübeck before coming to us was a perfect arrangement.
“He’ll be an important player for us in 2021 and beyond.”
'I cannot wait to come to Canada and play for you'.
A special ? message to all fans of The Nine Stripes from our new signing, Julian Ulbricht!
✍️ https://t.co/r7vSyingir#UniteYork | #WillkommenJulian ?? pic.twitter.com/yBNrIZMxNg
— York9 FC (@York9FC) October 5, 2020
Capable of playing across the front three, Ulbricht is described as a traditional striker with a poacher’s mentality. York9 managed just two goals from open play at The Island Games, relying on free kicks and penalties to reach their measly eight-goal first-round tally, so the Nine Stripes are banking on the German to help them rectify their issues in front of goal.
Ulbricht was identified by the CPL’s centralized scouting system of young internationals (age 23 and under), which is run by the league’s soccer operations department and the 21st Club, a world class data and analytics group with offices in London, San Francisco and Singapore.
Monday’s signing marked the second piece of business from York9 on European transfer deadline day. The club confirmed winger Michael Petrasso will go on loan to Barnet FC in the English National League.
