Gilbert Fuentes, a standout for the U.S. U17 MNT and SJ Earthquakes Academy, has signed a pro contract with the MLS franchise, it was announced on Friday.

Part of the 2002 age group, Fuentes has been a regular with the U.S. U15 BNT and the U17 MNT for the 2019 U17 World Cup cycle. The No. 4 ranked player in the 2020 Boys IMG Academy Top 150, Fuentes has excelled since joining the Quakes Academy in 2016.

“Signing Gilbert to a Homegrown contract was a priority for us and I would like to thank the Fuentes family, agent Rob Moore, MLS and our entire staff in the youth development area for their commitment to get this done,” Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a press release. “At just 15 years old, he has quickly separated himself from his peers thanks to a strong technical ability and high soccer IQ, which has garnered the attention of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Fuentes emerged during the 2015-16 Development Academy season, turning in a dominant performance for Ballistic United. He scored 19 goals in 24 games in the U14 age group during that stretch, joining the Earthquakes in the wake of that campaign. Since then, he's made 36 appearances for the Quakes, scoring five goals, all while playing up an age group.

The attacking midfielder was part of the U.S. U17 MNT at last year's Nike Friendlies, and joins George Bello and Gianluca Busio as full professionals already.

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