[HOMEGROWN WATCH] Sporting Kansas City signed 16-year-old Erik Palmer-Brown to a homegrown player contract, making thedefender the youngest signing in club history and the youngest player currently on an MLS team’s roster.
“We have put a strong emphasis and many resources into our Academy program andthis is another example of the great strides taken in helping our players reach the next level of soccer,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “Jon Parry andhis staff have done a tremendous job in the development of Erik Palmer-Brown and we are excited to watch his growth within Sporting Kansas City.”
Palmer-Brown joined the U.S. U-17 residency program for the spring 2013 semester and played for the U.S. U-16s at the Caspian Cup and U-17s, who won an international tournament in Japanin July.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity ahead,” Palmer-Brown said. “To play the sport I love professionally and to begin my career in my hometown is a dream come true. Iowe a lot to my family, my coaches and my teammates for helping me reach this point.”