GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Sixteen-year-old Chris Durkin of Glen Allen has signed a multi-year homegrown deal with D.C. United, Tuesday.
Durkin is the fifth youngest player to ever sign with a MLS club. He is a product of D.C. United’s youth academy.
The teen is a midfielder, who is the current captain of the U.S. under-17 national team. He also played one game with the Richmond Kickers last year as an amateur.
Chris Durkin (PHOTO: D.C. United)
DC United General Manager and VP of soccer operations, Dave Kasper, praised the Glen Allen native for his growth and potential as a D.C. United player.
“We are excited that Chris will begin his professional career with us,” Kasper said. “His maturity, ambition and understanding of the game are unparalleled for a player of his age.”
Durkin has been a member of the D.C. United Academy over the last five years under the tutelage of Academy Director Nolan Sheldon.
“Chris has been an exceptional talent since he joined the academy in 2011,” Sheldon said. “We are thrilled that he has decided to start his career at D.C. United and are excited to see continued development and growth."
Chris Durkin (PHOTO: D.C. United)
Durkin’s first appearance with the team is expected to come Wednesday when United takes on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the U.S. Open Cup.
He is only eligible for Open Cup matches this year.
The team said Durkin will train with United throughout the summer and return to the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla. In August.
Because of the Richmond Kickers affiliation with United, there's a decent chance that Durkin may wind up on the Kickers roster for a few matches this summer.
