Real Salt Lake Signs Youngest Player In MLS History To Homegrown Contract
Jan 15, 2022, 2:32 PM
Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake announced on Friday afternoon that they have signed the youngest player in Major League Soccer history to a homegrown contract.
RSL has signed Axel Kei from the RSL Academy and is the youngest to ever sign with a team in league history at 14 years and 15 days old.
The previous record was Freddy Adu at 14 years and 153 days old, 18 years ago. Kei signed a two-year contract with RSL.
Presenting the youngest Homegrown ever.
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 14, 2022
“Over the last year Axel has proven to be one of the top attacking prospects in the country. His propensity in front of goal is well beyond his years, and coupled with his elite athleticism, he projects to become a goal-scoring force in our league in the years to come,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall said.
Last summer, Kei helped the U15 team at the RSL Academy to their first ever MLS Next Cup Championship, while scoring five goals in five games played. He had a hat trick against Southern California’s Total Futbol Academy. It’s the first trophy for the RSL Academy since relocating from Mesa, Arizona to Herriman, Utah.
Kei recently played with the Academy’s U17 team and scored six goals in six games.
