EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Thursday the club had signed defender Miles Lyons from the prestigious Barca Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. Per club policy, details of the signing have not been publicly disclosed and is pending league and federation approval.

“We invited Miles in for pre-season after our friendly with the Barca Academy and we were very happy with him,” said Locomotive Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson. “We know he has a had an excellent football education with the Barca Academy and thank them for helping us and Miles with his first professional club. Miles has the potential to be a very good prospect for us moving forward and we look forward to seeing his development.”

Lyons comes to El Paso as an outside back, helping a fill a role on the defensive backline for the Locos. The 19-year-old’s arrival also deepens the budding relationship between Locomotive FC and the Barca Residency Academy, becoming its first signing since Diego Luna turned pro in El Paso.

Lyons played four seasons with the Barcelona Residency Academy where most recently he helped lead the U-19 team to the MLS Next Playoffs as it finished first in the Southwest Division after an undefeated regular season. As a talented young outside back, Lyons can push into attack to help provide width in the final third as well as providing a solid defensive presence.