SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. announced on Monday that the club had signed Salinas, Calif. native Jerry Ayon to a one-year contract for the 2024 USL Championship season.

Ayon will be available for selection in Monterey Bay’s contest against Irvine Zeta FC in the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Cardinale Stadium (10:30 p.m. ET).

The 22-year-old is officially the club’s first full-season signing from Salinas, highlighting Monterey Bay’s commitment to bringing young, local talent into the fold.

“Jerry is a good all-around player who plays in that central midfield role,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He’s a good passer, is tactically smart and has a very good engine. Jerry has been well-coached up there with the Earthquakes from their academy to Quakes II, so there’s no question as to why his football IQ is so high. He’s what we’re all about on and off the field and adding another local player is massive for us – especially because he is the first from Salinas. We’re happy to add him to the group.”

Ayon signed his first professional contract with LigaMX side Monarcas de Morelia at the age of 15. Just ahead of his junior year at Alisal High School in Salinas, Ayon made the move to join the U-20 team for the Michoacan, Mexico side. Not long after, Ayon was called to represent the United States internationally at both the U-16 and U-18 levels.

In 2019, Ayon joined the San Jose Earthquakes academy in Major League Soccer (MLS) and spent three years at the academy level before signing a professional contract with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side Quakes II in 2022. Over the past two seasons, Ayon made 47 appearances for Quakes II across the regular season and playoffs, recording two goals and one assist while posting a passing accuracy rate of 86.4 percent.

“It feels great signing with a club so close to home, it makes me feel really connected with my community,” said Ayon. “Being able to have my friends and family here every weekend, I’m really looking forward to it. I came in for preseason and training with the guys has been great. It was tough training with such a good, talented group. They really pushed me to better myself and I found some stuff that I didn’t know I had in me. Hopefully I can make my debut really soon, get on the score sheet and help the team with assists. But most importantly, I want to help this team make the playoffs.”