SARASOTA, Fla. – At just 23 years old, Griffin Yow has already collected experience playing in Major League Soccer, Europe, and on one of the world’s biggest international stages. Now, after nearly four years competing in Belgium’s Pro League with KVC Westerlo, the D.C. United Academy product returns stateside to join the New England Revolution.
Yow says the timing felt ideal to return to the league that shaped him as a teenager. A Virginia native, he weighed the nearness to home and the rapid growth of MLS, but ultimately, what really drew him to New England was Marko Mitrović.
Yow played under Mitrović with the United States Under-23s, where he made seven appearances. He was also part of Mitrović’s 2024 Olympic roster, appearing in all four matches at the Paris games and notching an assist.
“I was able to go to Europe and get some experience, some minutes under my belt, some goals, some confidence, and really grow as a player, to be honest with you, into the player that I am today,” Yow explained from the Revs’ preseason camp in Florida. “I think right now is a good time to come back. New England specifically, I’ve heard a lot of great, positive things about the club as a whole. But also, Marko being here I think helps a ton.”
Yow says the impact of his time overseas went far beyond the pitch. Living thousands of miles away from family, especially at such a developmental time of life, “puts some hair on your chest” as he put it. He matured quickly in the small Belgian town of Westerlo, but it pushed him to be stronger.
Soccer has always been a family affair for the Yows. The attacker’s mom was an All-American at North Carolina State, and his older brother and sister both played college ball. So, when Yow started kicking a ball at age four, it came as no surprise.
Appearing in 86 games across all competitions during his time in the Belgian Pro League, Yow netted 18 goals and 10 assists. In Europe, he said at times he had more of a defensive role, but the winger is excited to be back playing Mitrović ball – a style with plenty of focus on attacking aggression.
“To be a truly attacking winger, I feel dangerous on the field. I feel like I’m in spots where I’m going to get the ball and be able to make things happen,” Yow explained of being back under Mitrović’s system.
But it isn’t just Mitrović’s vision on the pitch that excites Yow about their reunion; it’s his ability to bring out the best in those around him that Yow considers Mitrović’s true specialty.
“If he finds that bright spot in you, he opens it up a lot,” Yow said. “As soon as I got to work with him, he saw a bright spot in me and just made it brighter. I feel like that’s the best way I can describe it.”
The Olympian has only been amongst his new teammates for a few days down at preseason camp in Sarasota, Florida, but he says he feels like he’s known them for much longer. While he’s only just met them all, he said he’s instantly felt comfortable and right at home in this locker room.
“Being with a team through preseason, you kind of have to fight the battles of preseason – the longer days, the time in hotel rooms for weeks on end without seeing family and for some guys, their kids. You’re in it together, so you form that bond,” Yow said. “Even being here a small amount of time, it’s been really nice. I’ve hit it off with a lot of the guys. It’s a very friendly team.”
While these are just the early days for both Yow and Mitrović with the Revolution, it seems like the Revs are off to a great start on all fronts. In Yow’s perspective, it will only get better from here.
