By RYAN TOLMICH
After going un-drafted in January’s MLS Draft and failing to sign a contract after training stints with Club Tijuana and the LA Galaxy, defender Ramon Martin del Campo has found himself a home.
The centerback has signed a two-year deal with Saprissa of the Costa Rican Primera Division. The Costa Rican side most recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League and is the country’s most successful team with 31 championships.
“I’m joining the best and biggest club in the area,” Martin Del Campo said in a statement after signing his first professional contract. “It’s an honor to put on this jersey. The commitment and responsibility are amazing.”
Martin Del Campo, who featured for the U.S Under-23 Men’s National Team in 2014, was heralded as a strong prospect during his time with UC-Davis and the San Jose Earthquakes U-23 side. Despite receiving offers from Saprissa and Tijuana, the centerback signed a deal with MLS and was just one o eight seniors to sign a contract prior to the MLS Combine.
However, Martin Del Campo went undrafted in January’s draft before resurfacing in preseason training camp with the LA Galaxy in February before departing to pursue opportunities abroad.
What do you think of Martin Del Campo’s signing? How do you see the centerback faring in Costa Rica?
Share your thoughts below.
Americans playing at Club America, Saprissa, Boca Jrs. others.. times have changed!
Guy was probably not good enough for Tijuana, so he ended up signing down there.
He should just join the army, from his twitter account it seems it’s the only thing he thinks about
This really is a huge mistake. I guess that the author has never been west of the Hudson and has no idea what he’s talking about.
” I guess that the author has never been west of the Hudson”
The only MLS teams EAST of the Hudson are NYFC, The Revs and possibly, Montreal.
so i’m assuming that deals college seniors sign are only guaranteed if they get drafted? or was MLS on the hook for his contract even though he didnt get picked up? understand if it’s voided when he wants to sign elsewhere, but curious what happened between january and now.
Does anyone know what MLS was offering and what he signed for at Saprissa? I think he is better off playing with a pretty good team than sitting on MLS bench or at a USL squad as long as the money is at least equal.
Interesting that he was on the Quakes U23 side and didn’t sign with them. Don’t know what to make of it. He’s one that the hype train just about ruined (from signing a MLS deal to not getting drafted to not joining a MLS team).
He had an out of body match versus the senior team during their preparation for the WC. My guess is that they were beaten down from overtraining because when I went to see this guy play, he really slow, upright and stiff. Has decent touch especially for a big central defender, and he is quite large and does seem to have a good soccer brain.
So yes, I think that this was a matter of a player being overhyped.
hmmm… I guess playing some where is better than sitting on the bench elsewhere.
Saprissa is a pretty good team. The league overall isn’t that great, but if he didn’t want to play in MLS, he didn’t want to play there.
I really question the way these players are evaluated at combines and in college. JK seems to be able to pick some that bypassed in the good old boy system of NSCAA. My player is always best club.
League seems to be doing pretty damn OK developing players for the National team, and for a nation that size- pretty good sending them to Europe. Lifestyle, soccer culture, opportunity toppled/learn, visibility…. he could do MUCH worse than Saprissa. Not like he is a grade A prospect. Realistic expectations, willingness to adjust them can make or break a young player.