USL Academy Contracts
STRATEGIC GOAL
USL Academy contracts are a critical component of the platform’s holistic approach to improving youth development in American soccer. Players signing USL Academy contracts at any level of the USL system have the opportunity to experience the senior team level of play at a young age, while maintaining college eligibility.
As USL clubs invest more in supporting their local youth soccer communities, pathways from grassroots to professional soccer are expanding in USL markets around the country. USL senior teams in the Championship, League One and League Two are encouraged to identify top local players and provide them with opportunities to compete at a high level by signing them to USL Academy contracts.
To discover and promote these players, clubs can either establish an internal development system, build a youth network with local clubs, or do a combination of both. By doing so, USL clubs help drive the creation of collective youth soccer communities, with well-defined pathways to both Men and Women's professional soccer.
As players within those pathways are integrated into senior team environments, USL Championship, Super League, W League and League One clubs will be able to offer the most talented players professional or Academy contracts with their senior team.
This mechanism provides the players ready to go pro with a direct route to do so. Clubs in League Two will use their senior team to provide their top young talents experience competing against college-age players during the summer.
By pushing more young players across the United States into professional environments, the USL will play a key role in improving the overall level of the elite American player.
As reported in July 2022, more clubs than ever are utilizing USL Academy contracts to great effect. See below to see examples of young players who successfully reached the pro level thanks to Academy contracts.
SUCCESS STORIES
Indy Eleven inks Diego Sanchez to first pro contract
2021 USL Academy League Playoffs All-Tournament selection spent past three seasons as USL Academy signing
Republic FC signs Academy products Blake Willey, Chibuike Ukaegbu to pro deals
16-year-old talents become seventh and eighth players to sign professional contracts coming through development system
Oakland Roots SC inks Academy product Etsgar Cruz to long-term deal
18-year-old is first player in Roots history to go through the club’s full development pathway to sign pro contract
Switchbacks sign Academy product Marco Rios to first professional deal
17-year-old recorded two goals as USL Academy signing in the 2023 USL Championship season
Switchbacks add Caden Hickox as USL Academy signing
Colorado Springs native was 2022 High School All-State selection, has competed for Pikes Peak Rush since 2013
SD Loyal signs local product Xavi Gnaulati to first pro deal
18-year-old made senior debut for club as USL Academy signing in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Richmond ink pair of talented homegrowns to USL Academy contracts
Former MLS academy product, current youth international to develop with Kickers' first team
Detroit City makes history, signs Academy product Dominic Gasso to pro deal
19-year-old is the first player to sign professionally with Le Rouge after coming through Academy system
LouCity adds Jabari Rasheed as USL Academy signing
Defender saw action in club’s international exhibition against FC Kaiserslautern, available for First Team selection on Saturday
LouCity goalkeeper Alex Kron joins First Team as USL Academy signing
2022 United Soccer Coaches All-America selection is fourth current Academy signing in roster
Latest News
Indy Eleven inks Diego Sanchez to first pro contract
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/28/2023, 11:15am EST
The Road to USL Academy Finals: FC Copa, AC Connecticut, Indy Eleven, New Mexico United
- By USL Academy Staff 11/20/2023, 2:00pm EST
Republic FC signs Academy products Blake Willey, Chibuike Ukaegbu to pro deals
- By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com 11/17/2023, 3:03pm EST