With so many rising U.S. youth prospects leaving over the past few months for free, it was no surprise to see one MLS side move against that trend.

Philadelphia Union Academy forward Selmir Miscic signed a contract with Union USL affiliate Bethlhem Steel, the alub announced early Thursday morning.

“Selmir is a young player from our Academy who has impressed at every level,” Union Technical Director Chris Albright said in a release. “Our mission as a club is to provide opportunities for young players like Selmir to progress and succeed, and he has proven that he is ready for this step. We’d like to congratulate him on his first professional contract and we look forward to helping him develop even further as he starts with Bethlehem Steel FC.”

Currently in camp with the U.S. Under-16 Boys National Team at a training camp at IMG Academy this week, Miscic is a native of Vermont that relocated to Pennsylvania in 2016 so he could play in the Union Academy. Playing for Philadelphia's U15 side in the 2017-18 season, he scored 33 goals in 26 games. He's become a regular with the U.S. youth setup at the U15 and U16 age groups, although as a 2003, is on the younger side for the 2019 Under-17 World Cup cycle.

“Selmir is an exciting attacking player who has a lot of potential," Steel FC Head Coach Brendan Burke said in a statement. “His play at the Academy has been exceptional and he has showed well in training at the Steel level. We are delighted that he has chosen to turn professional.”

Miscic is seeking to follow in the footsteps of Auston Trusty and Matthew Real, who both signed USL deals with the Steel before getting bumped up to the MLS side. He's the No. 21 ranked played in the 2021 Boys IMG Academy Top 150.

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