The 2015 Generation adidas class has arrived.
Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that it has signed five players to Generation adidas contracts. All-Americans goalkeeper Alex Bono (Syracuse) and midfielder Cristian Roldan (Washington) lead the class, which also includes American defender Conor Donovan (North Carolina State), Canadian forward Cyle Larin (UConn) – both of whom are set to take part in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships – and forward/midfielder Romario Williams (Central Florida).
Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget. Players who join MLS after signing GA contracts receive educational grants to further pursue their education.
In addition to completing its class of Generation adidas players, MLS also announced on Thursday that it has invited five youth international players to the 2015 MLS Player Combine, which will begin on Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Adrian Antonio Reta (Argentina), Brian Matias Acuna (Argentina), Carlos Alberto Riascos Guaza (Colombia), Vladimir Eric Hood (US/Peru) and MLS Caribbean Combine participant Juan Carlos Moscosa (Dominican Republic) will join 64 college seniors and the GA signings not participating in the CONCACAF U-20 Championships at the Combine.
Eight college seniors, all of whom will attend the Combine, were signed by the league on Monday.
Players are scheduled to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday ahead of Friday’s start of the Combine, which will run until Jan. 13 and will feature six total matches.
Combine invitees will learn their professional fates next Thursday, Jan. 15, at the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia.
2015 Generation adidas class
GK Alex Bono – Syracuse (Baldwinsville, N.Y.)
The junior goalkeeper had a standout 2014, earning an NSCAA first-team All-American nod and netting the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award to help the Orange to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
D Conor Donovan – North Carolina State (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.)
Just a freshman, Donovan notched one goal and one assist in 15 total appearances for N.C. State. The US youth international is currently with Tab Ramos and the US U-20s at the CONCACAF U-20 Championships in Jamaica.
F Cyle Larin – UConn (Brampton, Ontario, Canada)
The American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, the sophomore led UConn with nine goals in 2014. Like Donovan, Larin is in Jamaica for the CONCACAF U-20 Championships, where he’ll play for his native Canada.
M Cristian Roldan – Washington (Pico Rivera, Calif.)
The sophomore midfielder enjoyed a strong career at Washington, earning the 2013 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors and a 2014 NSCAA All-American third-team nod while recording 10 goals and seven assists in 41 career games with the Huskies.
F/M Romario Williams – Central Florida (Portmore, Jamaica)
A back-to-back first-team all-conference selection and a Jamaican youth international, Williams bagged seven goals and three assists in 17 appearances in 2014.
