SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC made USL Championship history on Thursday as it signed SAFC Pro Academy midfielder Leo Torres to a professional contract, making Torres the youngest player to sign a professional deal in the league’s history aged just 15 years, 23 days old.
Torres is just under a month younger than the previous record-holder, current LA Galaxy Homegrown signing Efrain Alvarez, who was 15 years, 1 month and 14 days old when he signed for the Championship’s LA Galaxy II in 2017.
“We’re very proud to have Leo as the first full-time academy player to sign with the first team,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for him to take the next steps as we look to integrate him into the squad while he keeps evolving, working hard, and showing good character.”
“I’m excited and honored to play for this club,” Torres said. “I would like to thank all of my academy coaches, the first team staff and the entire organization for this opportunity. I’m thrilled to be the first academy player to sign with the first team, and I look forward to continuing to progress while representing my city.”
Torres will continue to play with the SAFC Pro Academy U-15 team through the end of the 2018-19 Development Academy season this summer, after which he will begin to integrate with the first team. The San Antonio native has recorded 18 goals in 36 games for the academy since the program joined the DA prior to the 2017-18 season.
Torres originally joined the SAFC Pro Academy ahead of its 2016 inaugural year and was part of the initial squad that the program fielded (birth year 2004). Throughout his time with the SAFC Pro Academy, Torres has been called up to U.S. Youth National Team camp on two occasions, most recently receiving a callup to the U-15 camp in Carson, Calif. in late January. Torres is one of three players from San Antonio to be called up along with academy teammates Rocky Perez and Jaime Terrazas.
“We’re thrilled for Leo,” SAFC Pro Academy Director Nick Evans said. “This is a reflection of his hard work as well as the defined pathway that we have in place here for youth players throughout the club. We’re committed to our process and identity, and we’re proud to have local players representing this club and city.”
The SAFC Pro Academy is a fully-funded program dedicated to identifying and training players in the greater San Antonio area to provide them with a pathway to the SAFC first team, national teams, and/or collegiate soccer. The Academy currently fields four age group teams that compete in the Development Academy, the highest tier of youth soccer in the United States.