Columbus Crew SC midfielder Ben Swanson is starting a new expedition in his young soccer career. The 18-year-old Homegrown will train with several clubs in Germany to gain valuable experience at different levels.

“Ben Swanson is a player we are really thinking about [in terms of] his development and how to move him along,” Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter says. “I think for him to be with his international peers competing is an interesting part of the developmental process.”

Swanson will play with reserve teams and U-19 teams over the span of four to six weeks. For the Black & Gold’s youngest player on the roster, it’s a dream come true.

“It’s always a dream to play in Europe,” Swanson says. “Gregg and I sat down and came to the conclusion that this plan was the best for my development.”

Germany’s youth system has earned respect with its recent success. After restructuring the developmental youth program about 15 years ago, its tactics have proved to be effective with the country winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“I’m really excited,” Swanson says. “I’ve played Germany’s youth national team and they’re phenomenal. I’m excited to go into a club and see how the players become as successful as they are tactically, technically, physically, etc., compared to how the academies in America do it.”

Swanson recognizes tactical emphasis as the biggest difference between the academies in Germany and the U.S.

“There’s the emphasis on that at a very young age, and I think here in America, it comes later on.”

How each of the clubs’ styles of play compare to Crew SC’s, is yet to be determined.

“That’s what I’m kind of excited about,” Swanson says, “to see how do they compare to Columbus, how do they differ and how each club does something a little different.”

The Grove City, Ohio native played in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia earlier this year for the U.S. Under-20 and Under-18 National Teams. He also ventured overseas to Portugal, the Czech Republic and Spain to play last year. However, this is his first stint spending an extended period of time playing in a different country.

Swanson says he thinks the biggest challenge will be how he spends his time off the pitch.

“At home, I hang out with my friends; but after training here, you’re in a different country that doesn’t speak your language,” Swanson says. “So I think that will be important to kind of pick up new hobbies or find something that people do over here.”

Swanson is heading to Europe with an open mind. His journey may even result in a second, longer trip.

“He won’t be eligible to play with any of these teams, but they will have friendly games that they can schedule him in and we will evaluate it for January,” Berhalter says. “If we want to send him for six months or for a year, we’ll see how that goes.”

Swanson likes the idea of possibly extending his time in Germany.

“Hopefully I can go back over there in January for a longer period of time,” he says, “try to find a good club with a good fit that I like and they like me, and just leaving an impression.”