Orange County SC sign U.S. U-17 international Bryang Kayo

Orange County SC announced on Thursday they have signed 17-year-old midfielder Bryang Kayo.

The deal is fairly surprising, as Kayo, a member of D.C. United’s academy, had featured this season for that club’s USL Championship team, Loudoun United, and had been rumored to be the next Homegrown player signed by the MLS club. Instead, he has departed the club altogether and signed a pro deal with OCSC.

Kayo, who has three USL Championship appearances under his belt, is a U.S. U-17 international alongside Orange County SC goalkeeper Aaron Cervantes, and like Cervantes has a good chance of being called up to the USMNT for the U-17 World Cup in Brazil in October and November.

“Bryang is a technically gifted player that I am very excited to be working with. He has already shown at the youth international level that he can compete with the most talented players in his age group. It’ll now be good for his progress & development to match up with full professionals on a regular basis.” said OCSC head coach Braeden Cloutier in a team statement.

The club notes that Kayo is eligible to play against Tulsa Roughnecks FC.

Kayo is the latest teenager to sign with Orange County SC. In addition to Cervantes, who they signed last year, the club signed the youngest male pro in American soccer earlier this season, in 14-year-old Francis Jacobs.

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