[HOMEGROWN WATCH] The Seattle Sounders signed 19-year-old Akron defender DeAndre Yedlin as their first homegrown signing. Yeldin, a sophomore, becomes the fourth Zip to sign a homegrown contract with an MLS club this winter.
 
"We are thrilled to sign DeAndre as our first Homegrown Player," said Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer said in a statement. "Darren Sawatzky and Dick McCormick deserve much of the credit, as they have developed a top academy program for Sounders FC.  Hopefully DeAndre is the first of many local players who will come through our system and wear the rave green at the professional level."

Yedlin, who attended O’Dea High School, was honored on the All-MAC First Team in his two seasons with the Zips.

2013 Homegrown Signings
Columbus:
M Wil Trapp (Akron)
D Chad Barson (Akron)
FC Dallas:
F Bradlee Baladez (South Carolina)
D London Woodberry (Maryland)
Los Angeles:
D Oscar Sorto (academy)
F Gyasi Zardes (CSU Bakersfield)
New York:
G Santiago Castano (academy)
F Amando Moreno (academy)
New England:
M Scott Caldwell (Akron)
Portland:
F Steven Evans (Portland)
Seattle
D Andre Yeldin (Akron)