- George Dempsey
- 16 June 2023
Weston McKennie sent off as USA thrash Mexico in ugly affair
Weston McKennie was one of four players sent off as violence and homophobia marred the United States 3-0 win over Mexico.
The name Weah comes with a strong reputation but Timothy Weah, like his famous football player father George, is carving out a career based on power, speed and finishing ability.
Able to operate out wide or more centrally, he burst onto the scene in 2018 with Paris Saint-Germain, the team his father played for.
Weah made his USMNT debut a year earlier, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to earn a senior cap for the USA.
After a loan spell at Celtic, he moved to Lille OSC and has overcome injuries to force his way back into the team and the USA's plans.
Despite his young age Weah has already collected a healthy pile of trophies including three Ligue 1 titles, the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League.
Youth career
It was natural that Timothy Weah would receive a lot of interest in his soccer ability, being the offspring of Liberian President and 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah.
However, Timothy Weah credits his mother Clar, as being the driving force in his early soccer development.
Born in Brooklyn, Timothy Weah split his childhood between New York and Florida. He played for West Pines United in Florida before moving back to New York where he hooked up with US Soccer Development Academy Club BW Gottschee at the age of 10.
With a burgeoning reputation and a superstar surname it wasn't long before a larger club came calling. Weah joined the New York Red Bulls academy in 2013, where he would cross paths with future USMNT teammate Tyler Adams. The pair played together for the Red Bulls U13/14 Development Academy team.
Move to France
At 13 Weah had a trial with Chelsea, another club his father had played for, albeit a short loan spell.
Nothing came of the move to the Premier League club but when French giants Paris Saint-Germain became interested, a move was inevitable.
His dad played three seasons for PSG between 1992 and 1995, making Timothy Weah's transfer to the Parc Des Princes' club's academy in 2014 a seamless one.
He scored a hat-trick for PSG in the UEFA Youth League versus Ludogorets in 2016 as the Paris team ran out 8-1 winners.
A three-year contract followed in July 2017, with the young American putting pen to paper on his first professional contract.
Weah made his first-team debut for PSG on March 3 2018 away to Troyes in France's Ligue 1. It wasn't a scoring debut after coming on as a 79th minute substitute but Weah tested the keeper with a strong run and shot.
In May 2018, Weah made his first start for PSG on the last day of the 2017/18 Ligue 1 season versus Caen, and then scored his first league goal against Caen on the first day of the 2018/19 season.
The 18-year-old Weah showed great anticipation to rob Caen keeper Brice Samba on the line and force the ball home in the 89th minute.
Celtic loan spell
To aid his development, Weah was sent on loan to Scottish club Celtic in January 2019.
Weah made 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Glasgow club in 2018/19, scoring three times and making one assist as Celtic won the league title.
However, in May 2019. Weah's loan spell at Celtic was cut short after it was announced he would miss the Scottish Cup final to join the US squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
Move to Lille
After scoring for the US in the quarter-final of the U-20 World Cup, Weah's transfer to Lille OSC in France was announced in June 2019.
The 19-year-old signed a five-year deal in North-Eastern France, for the newly qualified UEFA Champions League team.
Weah was given his Lille debut on August 11 2019 versus Nantes. He played 68 minutes before being replaced by Yusuf Yazici.
However, Weah only made three appearances in his opening Lille season after tearing his right hamstring in September 2019.
He suffered a brutal setback on his return in February 2020, tearing his right hamstring again.
Weah battled back into the Lille first team in August of the 2020/21 season, scoring his first goal of the season in December against his former club Celtic in the Europa League.
Six days later he came on as a substitute against Dijon to score a 20 yard volley, his first Ligue 1 goal for Lille, in a 2-0 victory.
He made 37 appearances across all competitions, and scored five goals, that season as Lille won the Ligue 1 title pipping his old club PSG by a point.
The 2021/22 campaign was not as successful for Lille as they finished way down Ligue 1 in 10th place, Weah continued to make a contribution though playing 35 games in all competitions and scoring three.
International call-up
Due to Weah's parents, the USA had competition from France, Jamaica and Liberia for his international representation. Weah opted for the Stars and Stripes.
"I knew from the start I wanted to play for the United States of America. I am never going to change. This is my country and I love it here. They treat me well here and I love my teammates" Weah told americansoccernow.com
Weah represented the USA on several levels from the age of 14 upwards. In March 2016, he scored in the final of the prestigious Montaigu tournament in France as the US U-17s beat the hosts 3-2 to take gold.
In 2017, Weah headed to the CONCACAF U-17 Championships, scoring two goals along the way as the US finished second to Mexico.
Later the same year, Weah flew to India with the US for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. In the Round Of 16 game versus Paraguay, Weah scored a hat-trick, becoming the first American to do so in a World Cup knockout stage at all levels.
In 2019, Weah was named in the USA squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland where he scored twice, including in the quarter-finals v Ecuador, where the US were eliminated.
The natural progression towards the USMNT was fulfilled in March 2018 when Weah made his senior debut versus Paraguay as an 86th minute substitute .
Weah made his first USA start a goalscoring one against Bolivia in May 2018. He showed good movement to ghost in behind the Bolivian defence to score on 59 minutes and become the fourth youngest player to score for the US.
Weah came on as a substitute in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021, as USA beat Mexico 3-2 in extra-time. He also played a role in his nations' World Cup 2022 qualification.
In their opening World Cup group game against Wales in Qatar, Weah put the US ahead with a clinical strike in the 36th minute of a first half that they dominated from start to finish. But Wales salvaged a draw in the second half through a Gareth Bale penalty.
Personal life
Timothy Weah's father is legendary ex-player George Weah and his mother is called Clar.
He has a brother called George Jr who also played football, most recently for Tours in France. Weah also has a sister called Tita.
Away from football Weah is a keen musician, making trap soul songs at home. His favourite artists are Chris Brown, Drake, Travis Scott, XXXTentacion, Ski Mask the Slump God, Kehlani, and Jorja Smith.
