San Jose Earthquakes Sign 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Marcelo Avalos as a Homegrown Player
SAN JOSE, California — The San Jose Earthquakes, based in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, announced on November 6 that they have signed 16-year-old Mexico youth international goalkeeper Marcelo “Chelo” Avalos to a contract as a Homegrown Player. Avalos was born and raised in Salinas and is the latest professional produced by the club's academy.
Under the deal, Avalos will join the Earthquakes' MLS NEXT Pro team, Quakes II, through the 2028-29 season before becoming a Homegrown Player on the MLS first team effective July 1, 2029. His MLS contract runs through 2029-30, with club options for 2030-31 and 2031-32.
Avalos began attending Earthquakes games as an infant. He first started playing for Quakes Academy in 2017 at eight years old, when his older brother Lorenzo was invited to join the club's youth setup, and played his first game with the club's Under-15 team at 12. While still under an amateur contract, he made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with Quakes II earlier this season, playing four minutes against Sporting Kansas City II on July 7.
At international level, Avalos holds three passports and is eligible for the United States, Mexico and Iceland. He has been called into camps by the USA and Mexico but has solely represented Mexico since 2025, and he has been named to Mexico's final roster for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this month.
“We're really excited to officially welcome Chelo to the group,” said Quakes II Head Coach Dan DeGeer. “He earned his debut last season and progressed steadily throughout the year. Chelo has earned this opportunity.” Academy Director Luchi Gonzalez called Avalos a great example of hard work and dedication and a dominant goalkeeper in his age group. “It's a dream come true and I'm truly blessed to have this opportunity to sign my first pro contract with the Earthquakes,” Avalos said.
Avalos is the 21st Quakes Academy graduate signed as a Homegrown Player since 2014. Four Homegrown Players are currently on the first-team roster — Niko Tsakiris, Edwyn Mendoza, Rohan Rajagopal and Kaedren Spivey — and Tomo Allen will make it five when he joins on January 1, 2027. Avalos wears No. 89, stands 6-2, weighs 180 pounds, was born on November 8, 2009, is right-footed, and lists Salinas as his hometown. (Source: San Jose Earthquakes)
Source: San Jose Earthquakes
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Photo: 图：Marcelo Avalos 手持自己的89号球衣。圣何塞地震足球俱乐部官方发布。 / Photo: Marcelo Avalos holding his No. 89 jersey. San Jose Earthquakes official release.
