Los Angeles FC have announced the signing of teenage Senegalese defender Mohamed Traore, using the top spot in the Major League Soccer Waiver Order.
The 18-year-old joins the Black and Gold from Soccer Institute of Montverde Academy based in Orlando, Florida.
Born in Senegal’s capital city Dakar, Traore arrived at Montverde as a 14-year-old. As a senior member of his team in 2019, he registered seven assists to help Montverde Academy to an impressive record of 21 wins, four draws and one defeat.
He was part of Senegal’s U17 squad of 2019, albeit, he did not make Malick Daf’s squad for the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations staged in Tanzania.
There, the West African nation failed to get out of Group B that paraded Guinea, Morocco and eventual winners Cameroon.
Los Angeles executive VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager John Thorrington lauded the abilities of the teenager and believes he would grow under Bob Bradley at Banc of California Stadium.
“Mohamed is an exciting, young player with a lot of potential,” said Thorrington as reported by LAFC website.
“We believe getting him in our environment will help him continue to grow and develop and prepare him for success at this level.”
Following his addition to the Black and Gold’s fold, he becomes the third African in Bradley’s squad after Ghana's Latif Blessing and Libya's Mohamed El Monir.
Los Angeles crashed out of the 2020 MLS is Back championship after losing 4-1 to Orlando City in the quarter-final on penalties after a 1-1 draw after full time.
They return to regular season play on Saturday, August 22 against LA Galaxy.