A Red Bulls defender and New Jersey native is heading to the Olympics.
John Tolkin was named to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team on Monday morning during an announcement made on NBC’s “Today,” marking the first time the franchise has sent a player to the Summer Games in its era as the Red Bulls.
The 21-year-old defender has made seven appearances for the U.S. team as they prepare for the Summer Olympics, which are taking place in Paris this month.
Additionally, Tolkin made one appearance with the United States senior national team this year.
The Olympic team is a U23 roster with three exceptions.
“Personally, it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and whenever I can put on the U.S. shirt, whether it be at Olympics or just a friendly it’s a huge honor,” Tolkin, a Chatham, N.J., native said during an appearance on CBS Sports Golazo in April.
“Where I’m from it’s a tiny town in Jersey. I think us people from Jersey have a little chip on our shoulder and we love where we’re from. We take a lot of pride in it, so it’s something that you can’t really explain when you’re in the moment when you’re wearing the crest. It’s an amazing feeling and it’s what all players play for.”
Beyond just this year’s Olympics, Tolkin could very well be a part of the United States team that competes at the World Cup in 2026.
He made four appearances for the national team last year, including two in the Gold Cup.
Tolkin’s Olympic nod makes him just the sixth player in the franchise’s history — they were known as the MetroStars from 1996-2006 and then rebranded as the Red Bulls — to make the Olympic team and the first since 2000 when Tim Howard and Ramiro Corrales represented the United States.
This is Tolkin’s fifth season with the Red Bulls and he has played 105 MLS games for the club.
He earned his first MLS All-Star nod last season and owns the franchise record for most assists by a defender in a single season across all competitions with 10.
Tolkin also sits tied for second on the all-time assists record for defenders across all competitions with 15.
The United States will play a friendly against Spain on July 18 before opening the group stage of the Olympic tournament on July 24 against host nation, France.
The U.S. will also play New Zealand and Guinea as part of the group stage.