Sporting KC's latest teen signing also from North Carolina

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Sep 14, 2017

Sporting Kansas City has signed 17-year-old defender Jaylin Lindsey to a Homegrown contract. Like 15-year-old Gianluca Busio, whom Sporting KC signed last month, Lindsey grew up playing youth ball in North Carolina before joining the Sporting KC’s Development Academy team.

Lindsey played for Charlotte SA when he was called up for the U.S. U-14 national team in 2013. In January of 2015, Lindsey left North Carolina for Kansas City. He signed a contract with Sporting KC’s USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers in May of 2016, and in the fall of that year joined the U.S. U-17 national team Residency program in Bradenton, Florida.

Lindsey started for the U.S. U-17s during its runner-up finish the Concacaf U-17 Championship that qualified it for the 2017 U-17 World Cup, which takes place in India Oct. 6-28. His MLS contract kicks in on Jan. 1, 2018.

“During his time in our Academy, Jaylin has demonstrated incredible progress on the field and a very high level of maturity for a player his age,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “He has a good understanding of what it takes to be a professional, and we are excited to provide him with the environment and opportunity to realize his potential as a player.”

Busio, a forward on the USA’s U-15 national team, hails from Greensboro. He joined Sporting KC’s academy in 2016.