The Vancouver Whitecaps have announced that 17-year-old striker Omar Salgado is available for immediate selection after his International Transfer Certificate was approved by FIFA.
The top pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft was expected to be out until perhaps his 18th birthday in September due to FIFA’s restrictions on youth players playing outside their home countries.
The Texas native is currently participating in the U.S. U-20 National Team camp ahead of its qualifying tournament for the 2011 U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
"I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to my club on the field and I will continue working hard, so that I am ready when the day comes,” Salgado told the club’s official website.
The move was also approved by the United States and Canadian soccer federations.
“Omar is a great talent and will be an important player to the club,” Vancouver head coach Teitur Thordarson said. “To have the news that he will be able to play from this point on is great for us, as Omar has already showed us that he can play on this level. I’m delighted for him and the club.”
What do you think of this development? How big an impact with Salgado have in his rookie season? Excited to see what the teenager can do?
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