Galaxy II makes Efrain Alvarez youngest ever USL signing

Efrain Alvarez  may be playing in the Mexican national team program, but he has committed to club ball on north side of the border. The 15-year-old star of the Galaxy’s U-18 Development Academy runner-up team became the youngest USL signing in history when he inked a contract with Los Angeles Galaxy II.

The Los Angeles native was still eligible for U-14 ball in the 2016-17 season, but played for the Galaxy's U-18s and scored in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final as Coach Brian Kleiban's team finished runner-up to Texans SC Houston.

Alvarez turned 15 on June 19. Previously, the youngest players signed to USL pro contracts were Canadian Alphonso Davies, who signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in February 2016 at 15 years, 3 months and 3 days old. Galaxy II keeper Eric Lopez, now the third youngest, signed in November 2014 when he was 15 years and 8 months old.

Alvarez starred for the U.S. U-15 national team on an April 2016 Argentina trip, but switched to Mexico and attended a Mexico U-15 training camp in September 2016 and last June joined Mexico’s U15s at the Rimini Cup in Germany. He is currently training with Mexico’s U-15s at FMF’s national center.

“We are very excited to have Efrain begin his professional soccer career with LA Galaxy II,” said LA Galaxy II coach Mike Muñoz. “He is an extremely talented player who has set himself apart during his time in our Academy and he will continue to improve as a player at the professional level.”

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