By Anonymous (not verified), May 10, 2022
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Thank you, MLS
Three MLS NEXT Pro Players Sign MLS Contracts
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Pictured: Beto Avila. Photo Credit: Houston Dynamo FC
Over a three-day span last week, a trio of MLS NEXT Pro standouts had their soccer dreams come true as they signed their first MLS contracts. On Thursday, the Portland Timbers announced the signing of Nathan Fogaça, which was followed by Beto Avila signing with Houston Dynamo FC from Dynamo Dos on Friday, and Themi Antonoglou joining Toronto FC on a Homegrown contract from TFC II on Saturday. Fogaça, Avila and Antonoglou are the only players to sign an MLS contract after competing in MLS NEXT Pro. They join Inter Miami CF’s Noah Allen, who signed with the club on March 11, prior to the start of the MLS NEXT Pro season.MLS NEXT Pro was created to complete the professional player pathway from academies to MLS first teams, and these signings are doing just that. Houston Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said it best when discussing Avila’s signing."Beto’s signing is a historic moment for the club as he is the first player to graduate from Houston Dynamo 2 to our first team,” said Onstad. “We launched our MLS NEXT Pro team to provide more professional opportunities for talented young players in Houston and around the country. MLS NEXT Pro is a new initiative by MLS, but we are already seeing the advantages to our player development efforts by providing a valuable bridge from our oldest academy team to our first team. We plan for Beto to be the first of many players to earn their way to MLS through this new pathway.”Fogaça first joined T2 on April 22 via transfer from Brazilian side Coritiba. He posted two 90-minute performances with T2, tallying an assist on May 1 against Colorado Rapids 2 and converting his penalty kick in T2’s shootout against Real Monarchs on April 24. Avila scored five goals with Houston Dynamo 2, including the first and only hat trick thus far in MLS NEXT Pro history. Avila joined the first team on a short-term loan in April, making his Dynamo debut in Houston’s 2-1 victory over Rio Grande Valley in the U.S. Open Cup on April 19, providing the game-winning assist. Antonoglou made his first-team debut when he came off the bench against NYCFC on April 22. He appeared in four games for TFC II, starting all four, recording a goal and two assists.
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