Midfielder Efrain Alvarez signs with LA Galaxy

Another promising young talent has made the jump from Los Dos to the first team. The Galaxy announced this morning 15-year old Efrain Alvarez has penned a Homegrown Player contract with the club. The LA native and dual national has competed in both American and Mexican youth national team setups.

“Efrain has a bright future within this club and we are very thrilled to sign him,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “He’s a very talented and creative young player with a great vision of the game. He’s progressed through our organization and we are excited for that continued development.”

Alvarez, at 15 years and 258 days, becomes the seventh youngest MLS signing in league history, two days behind Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Alphonso Davies. Last year, Alvarez became the youngest signing in USL history at 15 years and 44 days when he inked his first professional contract with LA Galaxy II.

Internationally, Alvarez has spent time with U.S. Soccer Youth National Team and Mexican National Team sides. Most recently, Alvarez was called into Mexico’s U-17 training camp in Mexico City. He featured for the Mexico U-15s at the Rimini Cup in Germany in 2017, in addition to a U-15 training camp last October.

Alvarez also had a big 2017 with the LA Galaxy Academy, leading the U-17/18s to the USSDA Championships at StubHub Center in July, scoring in the team’s quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches.

Kudos to the organization for locking up Alvarez. After all, there was real concern last year the young attacker would be swayed into heading to Mexico before signing a deal with Los Dos.