Alex Chow is a 20-year-old attack-minded central midfielder for Stanford Cardinal in NCAA Division I. The American is a rising junior who has made 39 appearances in his first two seasons of eligibility, starting all 20 in 2025. During his sophomore campaign last season, he scored a goal and recorded an assist, adding two more assists as a freshman. Playing for The Town FC/San Jose Earthquakes II in MLS Next Pro from 2023 to 2024, he was not a regular starter but still managed 5 goal contributions in 1,535 minutes.
Chow is a diminutive midfielder, standing at a very lean 5’6” (1.68 m). His low center of gravity combines with his short-area quickness and sharp change of direction to make him quite agile. In addition, it aids his contact balance, which is excellent alongside his body control. Despite his physical limitations in duels, he is willing to engage physically. He is not the fastest over long distance, not creating a ton of natural separation in behind or on carries. This makes him more reliant on his technical prowess if on ball, and more suited for a central role than out wide. Aerially, Chow has limited to no impact. His stamina is good enough to fulfill a box-to-box role, but he has room for improvement, as his intensity and focus drop late in matches.
Chow is very reliable at retaining possession, particularly in tight areas, using his dominant left foot. His decision-making speed is excellent for the level, consistently releasing the ball within one or two touches. At short-range, he acts quickly to lay it off while being quite accurate when combining play. His calm, preemptive scanning unlocks these moments while showing some expansiveness. Chow has shown some evidence of progressive ability, able to slip runners in behind and break lines. His line-breaking passes can be mistimed, though. He also puts in a high volume of crosses (from both open play and set pieces), primarily in swinging, but his accuracy is inconsistent. Despite some promising creative intent, ball retention is his focus with the ball at his feet. His weak foot is functional but limited, and he can be too conservative with his actions. Chow usually does not take risks and opts to recycle play with smart, simple passes to instead maintain possession and keep the attack flowing. His understanding of spacing that is above this level really helps him be decisive in these situations, and when combining play in tight areas. When finishing, it is typically from outside the box, lacking consistent end product.
Out of possession, Chow displays a high work rate, almost always recovering quickly and being a pesky presser. He forces rushed decisions and can disrupt the buildup by being aggressive into closeouts, which can lead to fouls. He reads and cuts out passing lanes well and is capable of the occasional interception. His aggressiveness helps him duel for loose balls, though he is limited by his lack of strength and poor tackling technique. His ability to use angles and positional discipline to defend helps overcome his physical limitations. His anticipation and effort somewhat make up for his unreliable ball-winning ability.
Chow has the profile to be a solid no. 10 in the USL in the future, but must add more final third contribution. His football IQ and tight-area composure in the half spaces, while having a limited defensive ceiling, make him well-suited for that role in possession-based systems. If he does manage to develop more defensively and progressively, he could potentially reach the MLS as a connective no. 8.
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