With Jose Cifuentes and Diego Palacios heading to big clubs in Brazil and Scotland in recent months, the Los Angeles Football Club has quickly reloaded its complement of young talent.
On Thursday, LAFC welcomed perhaps its most intriguing prospect yet: 17-year-old David Martinez.
The Venezuelan forward, who was closely linked to Dutch powerhouse Ajax, joins LAFC through 2027, with a club option for one more year, as part of Major League Soccer’s U22 initiative.
“David is one of the most sought-after young players in South America with an impressive amount of experience despite his age,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a release announcing the news. “We are incredibly excited about David’s potential and his future at LAFC.”
The U22 designation encourages MLS teams to develop and spend on talent by freeing up the salary budget for three players aged 22 years or younger.
The signing of Mexican fullback Omar Campos, a direct replacement for Palacios at left back, was also announced Tuesday as part of the U22 initiative.
The fee for Martinez, who made his senior team debut with Monagas SC of Venezuela’s first division at the age of 16, approached $3.5 million, according to The Athletic.
Over the past two years, Martinez stood out among prospects around the world who were born in 2006.
For Monagas, Martinez made 38 appearances, including 24 starts, scoring six goals and assisting on five more in all competitions, including a handful of matches in the Copa Libertadores tournament.
He also captained Venezuela’s U-17 side to its first World Cup qualification in a decade. He played for the U-20s at the age of 16. And he debuted with the men’s national team in June in a friendly against Guatemala.
A gifted dribbler, facilitator and finisher, the book on Martinez has him playing on the wing or as an attacking midfielder.
He turns 18 on Feb. 7.
Martinez joins Campos and Uruguayan forward Cristian Olivera, giving LAFC a trio of U22 players to watch heading into 2024.
(Croatian forward Stipe Biuk had signed as a U22 prior to last season, but he won’t count against the current roster following a recent loan to Real Valladolid of Spain’s second division.)
Having three U22s means LAFC is hemmed in as to what it can do with a pair of available Designated Player positions. Talks with Carlos Vela, the club’s longtime captain and first designated player signing, are ongoing. Should the two sides come to terms, the LAFC could still add a Young DP.