University of California defender A.J. Soares has signed a senior contract with Major League Soccer, Soares revealed on his Twitter account Sunday.
The No. 11 rated player on SBI's MLS Draft Big Board, Soares joined the North Carolina trio of Michael Farfan, Jalil Anibaba and Stephen McCarthy as college seniors who have signed with MLS.
Soares was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and helped the Bears reach the NCAA Elite Eight, where they lost to eventual national champion Akron in penalty kicks.
Here is SBI's profile on Soares from before the college season.
While Akron defenders Perry Kitchen and Zarek Valentin are more highly-rated draft prospects who can play multiple positions along with playing centerback, Soares is arguably the best pure central defender in the 2011 MLS Draft pool. Strong in the air and a deft passing defender, Soares has drawn some comparisons to New York Red Bulls standout rookie Tim Ream.
Exactly what I was thinking when I saw this photo!
AJ Soares looks like Chicago Fire midfielder Bratislav Ristic. I won’t mind seeing him wearing a Chicago Fire uniform to team up with Kwame Watson-Siriboe at the center back position with Kinney and Segares. However, the Fire’s top priority is a striker and I want William Bruin with that pick. Here is my depth chart for the Men in Red 1)Bruin 2)Soures 3) Ampitakawong
I have a question….
I obviously pay loads of attention to MLS, the EPL, & the USMNT, but i only watch the college cup and my knowledge of college players doesnt expand very far…
How is this guy speed wise? We talkin the next Frankie Hejduk by chance?
ives, do you see NY moving up in the draft?
Saw him play and have to say that Boxall from UCSB is the best pure CB in the draft. He has more experience than any other CB in the draft and played a lot better than Soares in the Berkeley/SB match up. I’m guessing since he’s an international that is putting hesitation on signing him.
(SBI-Mike, I rate Boxall pretty highly but let’s face it, you’re a UCSB homer. Could Boxall wind up being the better pro? Possibly, but I’d say Soares isn’t rated more highly by scouts because of Boxall’s international status. Soares is simply considered the better player right now. He’s younger, a better passer a bigger threat to score and to some a better pure defender. Not saying Boxall is bad, I actually had him going in the first round in one of my practice mock drafts a few months back, but Soares is the better prospect right now.)
I would love for Houston to pick a forward or a creative offensive mid, if they took someone like Salgado or the guy from Penn it would be super great but yeah this could be just what they need so they can spend more $$$ on a forward an international player or a DP for MF
Pick him Houston!!!
Chivas USA needs to draft Soares, Valentin or Kitchen if he decides to join MLS.
Go Bears!
Looks like a love child of Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos.
(SBI-If he can play like one instead of just looking like one then some MLS team will be VERY happy.)
So, senior contracts need to be signed for a senior to enter the draft?
(SBI-No, senior contracts mean a player will definitely play in MLS and won’t bolt to Europe if he doesn’t like where he’s been drafted. It just helps MLS lock up the best prospects. Any senior can be in the draft, but without a contract you can A) be cut and B) leave for another country’s league if you don’t like where you’re drafted or go undrafted.)