By MICHAEL WALLACE
Already touting one of the country’s best young forward prospects in Haji Wright, the New York Cosmos have now taken the step to add one of the nation’s more promising defenders.
Looking to bolster their back line for the long term, the Cosmos announced Monday that the club had signed U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team defender Alexis Velela. Velela has been part of the U.S. youth national team program since 2011 and joins from San Diego Surf Soccer Club.
“Alexis is an exciting prospect with great potential,” Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said in a statement. “He is a young player with strong technical qualities and is capable of playing in multiple positions. We are delighted to have signed him.”
Velela, 17, is a San Diego, Calif. Native and can play defender, full back and central midfield. He started every match for the U.S. U-17 team in the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and is expected to be named to the U.S. team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile this October. Velela is expected to join the Cosmos after the tournament ends.
“I’m very happy about joining the New York Cosmos,” Velela said. “I spent a week with the team on trial last month and felt really comfortable with the environment. I feel this is where I can continue to develop as a player.”
What do you think of the Cosmos’ new signing? Excited to see what Velela has to offer?
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