PDL News Release: TAMPA, Fla.– The PDL announced on Friday it had awarded a new franchise to the city of Peachtree City, Ga. for the 2016 season. Peachtree City MOBA will be owned and operated by Volker Harms, owner of the MOBA Soccer Academy, and play at the club’s state-of-the-art facility in Peachtree City.

“We are delighted to welcome Peachtree City MOBA to the PDL,” said PDL Director Todd Eason. “With the club’s outstanding ownership group, led by Volker Harms, we believe the league’s second new addition in Georgia this offseason will quickly create a rivalry between Peachtree City MOBA and Tormenta FC, and offer high-level soccer to the top players from the club’s academy as they move into the college ranks.”

Peachtree City MOBA’s new complex will feature state-of-the-art locker rooms, classrooms, meeting rooms, a fully-equipped weight training facility, and two regulation fields with seating for up to 1,000 fans.

“We are very excited for our fans to experience the high level of competitive play that features in the PDL at the club’s new facility,” said Harms. “The PDL offers a great platform for our club’s players who have moved into the college ranks to return during the summer to compete at our world-class facility as they strive to reach the professional ranks.”

The highest level of amateur soccer in North America, the PDL has a history dating back more than two decades that has helped top-level players rise to the professional ranks. Among the PDL’s alumni are players such as U.S. Men’s National Team members Brad Guzan, DeAndre Yedlin, Gyasi Zardes and Geoff Cameron. More than 200 PDL alumni competed in the 2015 Major League Soccer season, with another group of league alumni set to begin their professional paths next week at the MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Md.

The PDL has provided  a major development platform for future professional players, with 12 of the league’s current membership being owned and operated by an MLS or USL club, or holding a partnership with an MLS or USL club. 70 percent of the players selected in the MLS SuperDraft over the past seven years are PDL alumni, while Homegrown Players such as Gyasi Zardes, Harry Shipp, Darwin Jones and Jay Chapman also competed in the league on their path to the professional ranks.

The PDL has received strong support from both Major League Soccer and the USL as it provides a proven pathway to the professional ranks for top college-aged players in North America.