UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Head men's soccer coach Jeff Cook announces the addition of English Premiere League youth team captain Freddie Bell to his fall class. A native of Surrey, England, the midfielder comes to Happy Valley with international experience playing at the youth level in the Premier League, the highest level of English football.
"Freddie Bell brings a wealth of experience with him from his time at the highest level of youth soccer in England, representing Crystal Palace as their team captain," said Cook. We've been so impressed with his maturity, knowledge of the game and competitive nature. We are delighted that he has chosen to continue his athletic and academic career at Penn State."
Bell graduates this year from Lingfield College, where he has attended school for the last 15 year, as a highly recruited athlete. His successful career as an academy scholar in the youth Premiere League system has garnered him many options to continue his playing career in the United Kingdom and internationally. As a captain of Crystal Palace F.C., based in Selhurst in the Borough of Croydon, South London, England, he has spent six years developing his craft. Bell played in 14 games throughout the 2021-22 season for the Under-18 team. The England native made his first appearance at the Under-21 level in September of 2022, coming in as a substitute in a 7-3 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Premier League International Cup.
Soccer and other athletics run in the Bell family as Alan Bell, Freddie's grandfather, also played in the English Premier League for Arsenal for eight years. In addition, his father is a former gymnast and competed for England's National Team for five years.
When asked "Why Penn State?" Bell responded, "Penn State has an outstanding athletic reputation and is a historically renowned global university."
