FC Dallas Signs 13th Homegrown Player Alejandro Zendejas

October 1, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release

FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, Oct. 1) - FC Dallas announced today that it has signed its league-leading 13th Homegrown player to a professional contract. Alejandro Zendejas, a midfielder who joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2012, will be eligible for selection when he is added to the roster in 2015.

Signing the 16-year-old to a professional contract marks the first time that the club has inked a player from one of its youth affiliates, FC Dallas El Paso, which became a youth affiliate of the MLS club on Sept. 26, 2011.

"Zendejas is a very complete player," said FC Dallas assistant coach Josema Bazan. "He is a left-footed midfielder that can pass very well and be creative. He is very composed in front of the goal. If the game changes and you need to be tough defensively, he can do that as well. But for me, his best quality is that when you pass him the ball, he can go in any direction. He is very aware of where the pressure is coming from and he can escape."

Zendejas played with FC Dallas' U-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy team for each of the past three seasons. He has spent the majority of the 2014 season with the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team. Most recently, he was named to U-17 head coach Richie William's 20-man roster for the upcoming Panama International Tournament, which runs Oct. 1 through Oct. 5.

Zendejas was also named to the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team's 2014 Fall Residency Roster on Sept. 2, 2014.

Name: Alejandro Zendejas

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Height: 5-7

Weight: 145

DOB: Feb. 7, 1998 (16)

Birth Place: El Paso, Texas

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

Citizenship: USA/Mexico

Last Club: FC Dallas Academy

Transaction: FC Dallas signs Alejandro Zendejas (M)

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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