Midfielder Luis Arriaga and goalkeeper David Ochoa have signed Homegrown contracts with Real Salt Lake, the club announced on Wednesday.

Arriaga is the No. 49 ranked player in the 2019 Boys IMG Academy Top 150, while Ochoa is the No. 14 ranked recruit. Neither had reported a college commitment to TopDrawerSoccer.

Both players will join the roster for the 2019 Major League Soccer season.

“These are two players who we know very well from the RSL Academy,” RSL Assistant General Manager Elliott Fall said in a statement. “We believe that both Arriaga and Ochoa can join the group we have and continue to help build our club at the professional level. We’re excited to see two more players from our Academy who are able to make the leap to the professional game and contribute to our club.”

Arriaga, 17, has started and played in nine total matches for the RSL Academy this season, scoring four goals thus far.  The Santa Rosa, California native currently carries 55 goals throughout his career dating back to his arrival at the RSL Academy prior to the 2015 season.

“It’s very exciting to sign for Real Salt Lake,” Arriaga said. “I started at the Academy at 14 years old with this dream of becoming a professional player. So, to see it pay off is a dream come true. I set out to achieve this dream and now it’s realized. But the work isn’t done for me. I’m excited to get to work and contribute to this team and prove myself.”

Ochoa, 17, has yet to appear for the U-19s this season due to regular call-ups with the United States Under 20s. However, he made his professional debut in April 2018, starting and playing the full 90 minutes for Real Monarchs SLC in its 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 2017 the Oxnard, California native appeared in 14 matches for the U-17s and 17 for the U-19s. Ochoa recently helped the U.S. contingent qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Most recently, Ochoa earned his second shutout in as many matches played in the tournament, helping the States to its second consecutive CONCACAF Championship match with a 1-0 win over Honduras in the tournament semifinal.

“To sign for the first team means a lot to me, especially since I’ve been a part of the Academy for so long,” Ochoa said in a statement. “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to improve myself and my game with RSL and help the club succeed. I can’t wait to get to work.”

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Class of 2025 National Signing Day Coverage

U15/16 GNT National Teamp Camp Rosters

Commitments: Minnesota to Michigan