The LA Galaxy may be known for their big stars, but they continue to look to the future by stocking the team with Homegrown products.
The club announced Thursday that it has signed 17-year-old forward Bradford Jamieson IV and 19-year-old Raul Mendiola (above) to professional contracts. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Jamieson is a US youth international, having played for the U-15 and U-17 teams and been part of the US U-17 Residency program for four semesters. With the Galaxy Academy this season, he scored three goals in 11 appearances.
“We are thrilled to add Bradford Jamieson IV to our roster and continue our tradition of signing local players to the Galaxy,” LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said in a team statement. “Bradford is a talented forward who will continue to develop and grow as a player within our system.”
Mendiola, who featured in nine Reserve League games with the Galaxy in 2013, was the back-to-back U-16 Development Academy Player of the Year in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
“We are pleased to add Raul Mendiola to our roster,” Arena said in a release. “Raul is a talented player and his addition to the team exemplifies the strength of our Academy and player development structure.”
A native of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Mendiola has been with the Galaxy Academy for three seasons and scored 13 goals in the most recent campaign, leading the team to their second consecutive division title and a 20-7-4 record.
Jamieson and Mendiola become the sixth and seventh Homegrown Players to be signed from the LA Galaxy academy, joining Gyasi Zardes (December 2012), Oscar Sorto (December 2012), Jose Villarreal (December 2011), Jack McBean (January 2011), and Tristan Bowen (November 2008).
Prior to joining the Galaxy organization, Jamieson was a member of Chivas USA's academy. He made the switch prior to the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, following coach Mike Muñoz from Chivas to the Galaxy.
