SECAUCUS, NJ- Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed former Red Bull Academy forward Juan Agudelo, as he becomes the second Home Grown player produced by the club to join the first team. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, per MLS and club policy.
"Juan is certainly a player to watch out for in the future," said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "His physical and technical ability for someone of his age is impressive and he had a very strong preseason. We are thrilled to sign him for the first team and hope that he is one of the many players who will be developed thorough our academy."
Agudelo, 17, has been with the Academy program since 2007, when he joined the Under-15 squad. On Sept. 3, 2008, the Barnegat, NJ native was accepted into the United States U-17 Men's National Team Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and scored his first goal for the U.S. U-17s just over two weeks later. He helped the U.S. U-17s qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after the team posted a 3-0-0 record out of Group A at the CONCACAF U-17 Championships in Tijuana, Mexico.
"I'm thrilled to join the Red Bulls," Agudelo said. "The players in the locker room have welcomed me since I joined the squad in preseason and I'm excited to continue to play for this organization as a member of the First Team. I want to thank the Red Bull Academy for their help in developing me as a player."
At the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, Agudelo and the U-17s advanced out of group play to the knockout round before being eliminated. The Manizales, Colombia native also represented the U.S. at the U-20 level at Copa Chivas in Guadalajara, Mexico, scoring against the Brazilian U-20 side in a 1-1 draw.
In July 2009, the MLS Board of Governors approved an amendment to the rules governing the signing of youth academy players. MLS clubs receive two additional roster slots that may be used to sign academy players, in accordance with current Home Grown Player rules, to Generation adidas or developmental contracts during the 2009 season. These players will not count toward the 24-player roster limit.
#39 Juan Agudelo
Pronunciation: ah-goo-DELL-oh
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Date of Birth: November 23, 1992 in Manizales, Colombia
Hometown: Barnegat, NJ
Previous Club: Red Bulls Academy
How Acquired: Signed by New York on March 26, 2010
