Jesse Gonzalez has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in Major League Soccer after taking over as the starter for league power FC Dallas. Now the club has taken the step to ensure he sticks around for a long time.
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Gonzalez has signed a new four-year contract with Dallas, with the deal running through the 2021 season, as first reported by Goal. The American-born goalkeeper, who has yet to make a final decision on whether he will play for the U.S. national team or Mexico, has drawn transfer interest from multiple Liga MX clubs. But he ultimately agreed to a new deal that will replace his previous contract, which was due to expire after the 2018 season.
Gonzalez, who turned 22 a week ago, has started nine matches for FCD this season, allowing just five goals — giving him the lowest goals against average in the league among regular starters.
A product of the FCD academy, Gonzalez signed a homegrown player deal with the club in 2013, and made his first-team debut in 2015. He made 11 starts that season, impressing enough to start garnering transfer interest from Mexican clubs. He lost out on the starting job to Chris Seitz in 2016 but regained the lead role this season.
Eligible to play for the United States and Mexico, Gonzalez has represented El Tri on the youth level before but has yet to be cap tied. Gonzalez had made arrangements to be part of the U.S. national team's training camp in January 2016 before backing out and joining Mexico for an Under-23 camp.
Sources tell Goal that Gonzalez has yet to make a final decision on the national team, and could still play for the U.S.
Speculation had begun to brew regarding a Dallas move for American goalkeeper William Yarbrough from Club Leon, but sources tell Goal that the club had preliminary discussions with the U.S. international before reaching an agreement with Gonzalez. Sources also tell Goal that Yarbrough has finalized his own new deal with Leon.
