Jeremiah White IV’s path to pro soccer mirrors that of his father. But his goals are different.

When Jeremiah White IV turned 11 years old, he went to his dad and asked him to train him in soccer.

He knew his dad, Jeremiah III, a former high school and college All-American who played professionally in multiple countries, including time in Major League Soccer, would demand the most from him — and somewhere deep inside he knew he needed that push.

Until then, White’s trajectory was like that of many young kids coming up. He was a good player on a good club team where wins mattered more than development. He was just getting by, but barely a teen, White had the foresight to know he wanted more.

His father agreed to train him but under one crucial condition.

“I told him, if we do this there’s no half [expletive] it,” Jeremiah III told The Inquirer. He knew what it took as a former pro, but he also knew what it would take away from — time that could be spent with his three other children. “I told him, I said ‘I’ll train you, I’ll get you into the right spaces, but you have to want this because it’s going to be a commitment.’”

The commitment has paid off for Jeremiah IV, who signed a deal to play soccer professionally with Polish giants Legia Warsaw earlier this fall. In that span of time since telling his father he was all-in on a path to pro, White already spent time within the youth academy system of the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls, has been a mainstay on the U.S. youth national team circuit and before his move from Elkins Park to Poland, spent a season getting his first taste of professional soccer at just 17 as a member of MLS Next franchise, the Carolina Core.

Now, he’s following in his father’s footsteps, who coincidentally played in the Polish first division with GKS Belchatow in 2010. His father, who also left home at a young age following a college career at Wake Forest, had a nine-year professional career that spanned stints in Serbia, Greece, France, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia, the latter becoming just the second American to play for a Saudi club when he arrived to Ettifaq FC in 2010.

For Jeremiah IV, however, it’s not about following the same path as the guy with the same namesake, who helped him land a professional contract.

It’s about blazing his own trail — on his own terms.

“I’m really glad I got the contract, but I’m also glad they saw how I play, knowing what I can work on but still really trusted my ability to help their team out,” he said just days before heading over to sign his paperwork and meet his new teammates. “I wasn’t sure how this would all [turn out], but I’ve always envisioned this being the outcome.

“Moving away from home to a different continent, I mean, my dad tells me all about it, about when he went to college and then had to go abroad just to play, just to do the thing he loved. So yeah, I always felt I knew what was to come because my dad showed me the realities.”

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While he can credit his dad with knowing what to expect, Jeremiah IV carries what many refer to as “maturity beyond his years” to having this opportunity.

He was a key member of the U.S. under-17 youth national team and its run in several international friendlies and tournaments. A staunch midfielder who has also excelled as a defender, White impressed during his time with Carolina, mainly U.S. men’s national team legend Eddie Pope, who is the club’s sporting director.

“Jeremiah obviously came to us very, very young,” Pope said. “One of the things that you worry about when a player that young is around a professional environment is their level of maturity. But that was the first thing that was impressive not only to us as a coaching staff but his teammates was that a 17-year-old could bring that level of maturity both on the field and off.

“He cared about training, he cared about his nutrition, he cared about sleep. And so I think about that when I think about this move [to Europe] he’s making and I think he’ll be just fine. The kid literally is mature beyond his years.”

It’s maturity that comes with not just foresight but an aspirational goal. With the FIFA World Cup coming to the States in 2026, Jeremiah IV wants to be noticed by U.S. national team manager Mauricio Pochettino. Like many other players vying for that opportunity, he believes playing in Europe will give him the best possible chance of being recognized.

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To those who might think the notion sounds out of reach, it would — if this wasn’t referring to a player who, at just 11 years old, knew he could play at the professional level — if he just applied himself.

“It’s my goal,” Jeremiah IV said. “Anytime you can represent a country it’s a high honor. I’ve been fortunate enough to do it on the youth level and believe that I can do it on the senior level too. I just need to keep grinding.”

He paused and added:

“Look, I believe in myself. There was one point [when] I was not playing at all and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I would talk to my dad and ask him what I should do. But sometimes your parents can’t always give you the answer. You have to make the decision and do it for yourself. At the end of the day, it’s my journey and I’m grateful for all the people who have helped me get here along the way.”