MLS’ San Diego makes U.S. youth GK Ferree first-ever signing

MLS’ 2025 growth membership San Diego FC has introduced the addition of U.S. youth nationwide crew goalkeeper and former San Diego Loyal participant Duran Ferree as their first-ever signing.

The contract for the 17-year-old will undergo 2027 with an choice for 2028, San Diego announced Wednesday.

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According to the club, regardless of league guidelines prohibiting the crew from including gamers till subsequent yr, San Diego FC are nonetheless allowed to signal “local, San Diego based, young players like Ferree.”

“I’m honored to sign with my new hometown club,” Ferree mentioned within the membership’s announcement. “To be part of San Diego soccer history and play for my home city is beyond my wildest dreams.

“This is a testomony to all of the exhausting work I’ve put in to get right here and is every little thing I’ve been working in the direction of. I’m desperate to contribute to the expansion and success of the Club, and I’m excited in regards to the journey forward with my future teammates and the unbelievable followers in San Diego.”

San Diego CEO Tom Penn told ESPN that the plan is for Ferree to go on loan next year ahead of the club’s debut in MLS in 2025.

“We are in conversations now with Duran and numerous golf equipment to find out one of the best place for his continued growth in 2024; we count on to formalize a mortgage settlement quickly,” Penn said.

Ferree, a product of San Diego Loyal’s development program, made his professional debut with the now-defunct USL Championship side in 2022.

With the U.S. youth national team, Ferree has earned five appearances, including a start at the 2023 under-17 World Cup.

Among other owners, including a partnership with the Right to Dream academy, San Diego FC are led by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation (the first Native American tribe to co-own a professional soccer team in the U.S.) and San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado.

“We are excited to have Duran be a part of San Diego FC as a domestically developed younger expertise,” Penn said in San Diego’s news release.

“This signing spotlights our dedication to offering alternatives for native expertise to flourish proper right here in San Diego. Duran’s San Diego roots, pure expertise, and promise for the long run make him a precious addition to our Club.”

Last month, the membership broke floor on the constructing of their coaching facility and native Right to Dream academy that’s set to be prepared for his or her inaugural MLS season.